Monica Eaton Shares Her View on the State of STEM for GritDaily
STEM—that’s science, tech, engineering, and mathematics—is a core group of disciples for any dynamic economy. As Chargebacks911 COO Monica Eaton notes in her recent gueast feature for GritDaily, though, women remain painfully underrepresented in STEM higher education.
STEM Education is Vital to a Competitive Economy
Women earned 53% of all doctoral degrees in the 2016-2017 academic year. And, although women represent a majority of doctoral degree earners, just 1 in 4 degrees awarded in a STEM-related field went to a woman. That’s not to diminish the important work performed in non-STEM fields. However, a lack diversity in STEM professions will cause problems.
STEM is integral to the long-term performance of the US economy. And, as research suggests, teams with more gender and ethnic diversity tend to outperform more homogenous groups. Diverse teams draw on a wider range of backgrounds and personal experiences, allowing for more dynamic thinking and problem solving. If current trends continue, the US workforce risks losing tech competitiveness on the global stage.
Monica suggests that they key is for schools and colleges to take a lead in recruiting women towards STEM fields. “The best way to boost female enrollment in engineering and technology degree programs is to nurture girls’ interest and confidence in STEM subjects from elementary through high school,” she says.
Ideas Monica proposes include coding classes introduced in K-12 education and more scholarships and financial assistance for girls in STEM fields. She also posits that colleges should track enrollment and graduation rates in these fields to learn how to improve outcomes.
