Press Release: 2024-10-22
STEM Starts Now: Healey-Driscoll Administration Kicks Off 2024 Massachusetts STEM Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
10/21/2024
MEDIA CONTACT
Jason Law, Press Secretary and Events Coordinator
Phone
Call Jason Law, Press Secretary and Events Coordinator at 617-895-6556
Online
Email Jason Law, Press Secretary and Events Coordinator at Jason.Law@Mass.gov
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration kicked off STEM Week with 65 preschool students today at Boston Children’s Museum, announcing this year’s theme – “STEM Starts Now.” Taking place from October 21–25, 2024, STEM Week highlights the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and careers, reinforcing the message that STEM learning can start at any age and plays a crucial role in shaping the future workforce of the state.
“Massachusetts is home to the most innovative companies and brightest minds in the world, but for our state to stay competitive, we need to ensure the next generation is prepared for the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow,” said Governor Maura Healey. “STEM Starts Now emphasizes that it’s never too early to spark an interest in STEM, and we’re committed to ensuring all students, particularly those from underserved communities, have access to high-quality STEM education and career pathways.”
“STEM is not just a career path but a key to solving many of the challenges we face today, from climate change to health care innovation,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We want to encourage all students, even our youngest learners, to explore a future in STEM, and we’re focused on making STEM education accessible and equitable for all students, regardless of background or zip code.”
STEM Week 2024 features a variety of events, workshops, and hands-on learning opportunities across the state, aimed at students from preschool through college. Schools, businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations are encouraged to participate by hosting activities that engage students in STEM fields and introduce them to STEM professionals.
The administration has prioritized expanding STEM opportunities across Massachusetts through investments in STEM education, workforce development, and partnerships with industry leaders. The 2024 STEM Week also highlights initiatives to address the gender and racial gaps in STEM fields, with programs aimed at encouraging young women and students of color to pursue STEM careers.
“It was wonderful to be at Boston Children’s Museum today to kick off STEM Week with preschoolers and highlight how anyone at any age can participate in STEM learning,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “By focusing on hands-on learning and real-world applications, we’re giving students the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly changing, technology-driven world. STEM Starts Now serves as a reminder that it’s never too early or too late to engage in STEM learning, and we are committed to expanding opportunities so every student in Massachusetts can succeed.”
This year’s STEM Week kick off was at Boston Children’s Museum to see their STEAM Sprouts programming in action. STEAM Sprouts is a program designed for children birth-3 with their parents and caregivers. For very young learners, STEAM is all about skills, observation, and exploring materials to learn about the world around them. Toddlers may want to do the same activity again and again, which is a lot like a scientist repeating an experiment multiple times to validate results. When children are using a mallet, they’re building the fine motor skills that will later help them swing a hammer. By exploring magnets, they’re investigating phenomena by being encouraged to observe and try things out.
“As STEM skills are critical to healthy child development in the earliest years, we consider ourselves to be champions of this year’s STEM week theme, STEM Starts Now,” said Carole Charnow, President & CEO of Boston Children’s Museum. “At its core, STEM learning promotes problem-solving, curiosity, creativity, and hands-on experimentation. Kids love to do playful STEM activities, which are on offer every day at Boston Children’s Museum!”
“STEM education starts in early childhood. This year’s STEM Theme of STEM Starts Now lifts up the importance of STEM for our youngest learners, sparking curiosity and exploration, promoting a love of learning, and providing hands-on activities that develop foundational problem-solving skills,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “It was great to be at Boston Children’s Museum today to kick off STEM week and I look forward to highlighting its importance all week and year long.”
Massachusetts STEM Week is an annual statewide event organized by the Executive Office of Education and the STEM Advisory Council in partnership with the state’s Nine Regional STEM Networks. This effort aims to boost the interest, awareness and ability of all students to see themselves in STEM opportunities. Young women, students of color, English language learners, and students with disabilities continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields yet make up a larger percentage of the overall workforce. We need more learners from birth to post-secondary education and beyond to see themselves in STEM, because STEM starts now.
“We want all students to have learning experiences that are relevant, real-world, and interactive, and the STEM fields are full of opportunities for engaging activities and lessons,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Acting Commissioner Russell Johnston. “STEM Week helps show students the many varied career possibilities that exist in STEM and helps them envision what might be possible in the future.”
“Our colleges and universities in Massachusetts are central to preparing the Commonwealth’s future STEM leaders, and what is even more central is ensuring that students can access these opportunities,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “Massachusetts has made historic gains in college access and affordability over the past two years, and these gains should be paired with ensuring students know as early as possible about the benefits of pursing a STEM pathway. STEM Week puts a crucial focus on ensuring learners at any stage in their educational journey can begin preparing to enter the STEM professions, which are in great need of dedicated talent.”
Learn more about STEM Week at Mass.gov/STEMWeek.