Article by AL.com – June 2020 – COVID-19 caused startling unemployment and a fear for near-term future livelihoods. The consequences to the workforce of the future could be just as bad. Many of the new jobs that pay well will be in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM.) STEAM learning is best when it starts young, is hands-on, and is consistent. With many students out of school since March, we are in a summer of exceptional knowledge attrition. How long will it take to get back on track— to recover the momentum? Fortunately, there are nonprofits that are equipped to keep kids engaged with year-round learning in creatively inspiring environments. This is the time to support them, so that kids from cities like Huntsville — A Smart Place — can have a piece of its prosperity in the future.
There haven’t been so many inspiring signs of new space age and technological wonder since the 1960s: a new Blue Origin rocket facility, Space Force, Marshall Space Flight Center leading the Artemis Program to the moon and beyond, and all the advanced manufacturing to support such efforts. But are we going to make a way for this sense of wonder to flourish as an opportunity?
“The numbers say it all: STEAM jobs grew three times faster between 2000 and 2010 than non-STEAM jobs and we expect more of the same,” said Mike Murdock, President and Founder of Huntsville STEAM Works, a Huntsville nonprofit that fosters creativity and innovation through education and technology. “Meanwhile, in 2018, 2.4 million STEAM jobs went unfilled because of lack of qualified workers, and only 16% of high school students say they are interested in a STEAM career and test proficient in mathematics!”
STEAM Works offers classes, workshops, and an Education Makerspace for advanced manufacturing, 3D printing, coding, industrial and graphic design, woodworking, and more. Murdock said, “The first goal is STEAM career awareness— to expose the students to applications of STEAM they weren’t previously aware of. The second goal is to show them that STEAM careers are within their reach. Finally, we try to get them excited about careers in a STEAM field.” The main focus of their educational programming is to get kids involved in relevant technologies. Here are some of their most popular courses:
- 2D and 3D Design
- Metalworking and Woodworking
- Python Programming
- Robotics, from beginner to advanced
For modest course fees, participants learn from subject matter experts in a way that is relevant to their current interests, and they also are routinely exposed to new technologies such as CNC (computer-driven) machining, 3D modeling and printing, and various types of design software. STEAM Works helps K – 12 schools with their outreach program, by sending teachers and equipment to schools in the city and county.
STEAM Works addresses problems specific to the Huntsville area, where there is still a significant economic disparity between communities, rural and urban, city and arsenal, and across racial categories—minorities are deeply underrepresented in STEM fields; 2.2% of Latinos and 2.7% of African Americans have earned a university degree in STEM fields. Across all education levels, access at a young age is irreplaceable. “Underserved students may lack access to computers and the internet at home, while their schools may also lack funding for STEAM programs, so of course they are more likely to fall behind,” said Murdock. Access to technology also drives upward mobility: STEAM occupations out-earn non-STEAM fields by 12-30%.
STEAM Works depends on corporate involvement from some of the 300-plus companies in STEAM-related industries in Huntsville. “Our involvement with STEAM Works is ethically and practically motivated,” said Arlee Holmes, Corporate Communications Manager at Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation (INTUITIVE), an aerospace defense and engineering company with extensive programs in virtual reality, cybersecurity, weapons software and systems, additive manufacturing, and other STEAM growth areas. “On one hand, we want to give back to the community in which we live and work in—it’s important to get involved and stay connected. On the other, INTUITIVE loves to hire local. Because Huntsville has such a unique culture and history, those people born and trained here are likely to stick around,” she said.
Companies such as INTUITIVE offer financial support and invaluable insights into the kind of programs needed at STEAM Works. “We love it when a business interested in what we’re doing tells us about their needs in workers, so we can tailor our programs to develop those skills. We are very flexible and can implement new programs relatively quickly, so we are able to adapt to the needs of the business community as we become aware of them,” said Murdock.
COVID-19 has shown how important extracurricular involvement with knowledge is for times when public schools are disrupted. Studies showed that it took those children affected by Hurricane Katrina two years to “catch up” after a similar timeframe of displacement.
Murdock described STEAM Works’ response: “During the COVID-19 shutdown, we established remote learning programs and sent home supply kits for as many classes as possible to keep our students engaged. We are now carrying on with our usual summer camps, although seating is limited for the onsite camps, we just started offering virtual camps this week, and we are very excited to reach campers at home.”
The STEAM Works team believes that every child is a natural scientist, artist, and maker—they just need room to create, fail and recover, and repeatedly experience concepts in action to remain so. The juxtaposition of COVID-19 and the first commercial spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts is a microcosm of the challenge we face in equipping kids for the future. Hands-on learning from Huntsville STEAM Works is one answer.