Science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) is a term commonly used in defining educational methodology and curriculum choices in schools to enhance competitiveness in science and technology development. STEM education takes part in workforce development, national security interests, and immigration policy. The acronym’s popularity spread soon after a famous meeting on science education held at the U.S. National Science Foundation under the direction of NSF Director Rita Colwell. The director of the Office of Science Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists, Peter Faletra, suggested changing the acronym from the obsolete METS to STEM. Colwell, expressing some distaste for the old acronym, suggested that the NSF adopt the acronym change. One of the first NSF projects to use the acronym was STEMTEC: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in Teacher Education at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, which was founded in 1998.
STEM Education
