Making Science Make Sense

Bayer Facts Of Science Eduction Survey XIII

Fortune 1000 STEM Executives on STEM Education, STEM Diversity and U.S. Competitiveness

The Seed: Growing a Diverse American STEM Pipeline

Is the U.S. Education System Building a Diverse STEM Pipeline?

When it comes to building a diverse STEM pipeline, the U.S. education system is falling short, as reflected in the grades given by the Fortune 1000 STEM executives surveyed. In particular, the executives are most critical of pre-college education and its ability to interest girls and minorities in STEM.

	Average Grade Assigned
U.S. Education System Overall Providing Diverse, Talented and Skilled STEM Workers	C
U.S. Higher Education System Preparing Women and Minorities for STEM Careers	C+
U.S. Pre-College Education System Nurturing Girls and Minorities to Pursue STEM Careers	D

What is the Most Effective Way to Teach Science in the Elementary School Classroom?

Science should be the “fourth R” in elementary school classrooms and the best way to teach science is using a hands-on, inquiry-based approach, say Fortune 1000 STEM executives.

More than four-in-five executives (85%) believe that science should be given the same emphasis in elementary school as reading, writing and math.
About nine-in-ten (87%) say the most effective way for students to learn science is by conducting experiments, forming opinions, and discussing and defending their conclusions with others, rather than by reading textbooks, listening to lectures and memorizing scientific information.

Do STEM Companies Have a Role in Improving Education and Building a Diverse STEM Pipeline?

Overwhelmingly the Fortune 1000 STEM executives acknowledge the responsibility that they and their companies have in building a diverse STEM pipeline.

Nearly all executives (97%) say that STEM companies have a role to play in ensuring women and minorities succeed in science and engineering fields.
Almost all (98%) consider it important for STEM companies to support pre-college science education programs that help create the next generation of inventors, innovators and discoverers; two-thirds (66%) say it is very important.
Almost all (98%) say it is important for girls and minorities to receive a strong science and math education beginning in elementary school in order to reduce their underrepresentation in STEM fields; nine-in-ten (90%) say it is very important.

Are STEM Companies Fulfilling that Role?

Yes. Almost all Fortune 1000 STEM executives report that either their companies and/or their employees are involved in pre-college STEM education programs aimed at girls and minorities, such as “Scientists in the Schools,” internships and school-to-career programs, and scholarships. Fortune 1000 STEM companies’ level of participation is significantly higher than the participation of their smaller STEM company counterparts.

Nearly nine-in-ten executives (87%) indicate their company or employees participate in pre-college education programs that attract, encourage and sustain girls’ and minority students’ interest in math and science.
In particular, the executives see value in “Scientists in the Schools” programs, with nearly all (96%) agreeing that “direct contact with scientists and engineers is an effective way to help students better appreciate careers in science and engineering.”
While roughly the same number of emerging STEM company CEOs (98%) acknowledge the benefits of these programs, only one-third (37%) said their companies or employees participate in such programs.

When it comes to communicating the myriad STEM job opportunities available to today’s students, the Fortune 1000 STEM executives acknowledge they still have work to do.

Only half of executives (54%) consider their companies effective communicators when it comes to telling today’s students about the significant job opportunities in STEM fields. Even fewer of the smaller STEM company CEOs (32%) say they are effectively communicating this message.

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