What is STEAM?
WA4STEAM focusses on women-led startup project in the STEAM fields, but what is in a name?
STEAM is the acronym that refers to all the careers in the fields of:
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Architecture and Mathematics.
The U.S National Science Foundation (NSF) used during this 90´s acronym SMET when referring to the career fields in, Sciences, Maths, Engineering and Technology, or to a curriculum that integrated knowledge and skills from those fields.
However, in 2001, the American biologist Judith Ramaley, then Assistant Director of Education and Human Resources at NSF, rearranged the words to form the STEM acronym. Since then, STEM-focused curriculum and the acronym have become common in many countries outside of the United States.
During the “Nineties”, the idea of fostering creativity to promote critical thinking and the use of engineering or technology in imaginative ways to solve real-world problems had started to spread lending the letter A for arts and architecture being added to the STEM acronym.
The arts and architectural studies, in all their various forms and related skills are critical components to innovation, and by incorporating them to complement the scientific approach will only strengthen the chances to success. Artistic and design related skills will spark the imagination, produce more creative endeavours and bring about further innovation.
“It is the tension between creativity and skepticism that has produced the stunning unexpected findings of science.”
Carl Sagan, astrophysicists
Why STEAM?
Because Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Architecture and Mathematics are among the fields with the largest gender gap, we being an all-women business angels group can provide the needed support to start changing this discrepancy.
Empowering Women in STEAM
It is now widely accepted among economists that innovation, research and development are the basis for a sustainable growth in the future, and careers that are focused on STEM are usually associated to high quality rewarding jobs.
Unfortunately, young women tend to be less and less interested in these careers as several statistics show, which means they are likely going to miss the opportunities to lead upcoming changes in our society.
There is not a widely accepted explanation for this growing gap but at WA4STEAM we believe we can make a difference to lessen it. With our members’ dual purpose on profitability and making a social impact, we aim to empower women entrepreneurs within STEAM fields, providing them with nurturing and powerful role models who are inspiring a new generation of young women into science, engineering and technology focused training.
Discover why our investing business angels say yes to STEAM.
STEM fields still have a gender imbalance
In the United States women earn only about 35 percent of the undergraduate degrees in STEM, even though they account for almost 60 percent of college graduates. This number has remained unchanged for the past decade and will not likely shift unless new measures are taken.
Future & STEAM
The future of the economy is in STEM.
Data that supports WA4STEAM’s commitment to STEAM.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that employment in occupations related to STEM is projected to grow to more than 9 million from 2012 through the year 2022.
In Europe the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, CEDEPOF, shows that employment of STEM professionals and associates professionals in the EU has increased since 2000 and despite of the economic crisis, demand for STEM professionals and associate professionals is expected to grow by 8 % between 2013 and 2025, whilst the average growth forecast for all other occupations is 3 %.
