Partnering to boost STEM in N.C. – A new feature at Local Tech Wire

Updated Apr. 23, 2010 at 12:35 p.m.

Partnering to boost STEM in N.C. – A new feature at Local Tech Wire

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Note: The Skinny blog is written by Rick Smith, editor and co-founder of Local Tech Wire and business editor of WRAL.com.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – What are the four most important words in education today? Arguably, they are:

Science
Technology
Engineering
Math

As the world’s economy continues to evolve toward more reliance on information technology, employers are seeking more workers who have skills in science, technology, engineering and math.

In other words, STEM.

Today, Local Tech Wire is pleased to announce a new partnership with the North Carolina STEM Community Collaborative, MCNC and the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center (SMT Center) to advocate for the importance of STEM in education today.

Beginning Monday, April 26, Local Tech Wire will launch a special section devoted entirely to coverage of STEM. With content provided through the N.C. STEM Community Collaborative, the SMT Center and other sources, the LTW STEM section will feature stories about issues and opportunities, interviews with STEM leaders, and stories about students enrolled in STEM.

Additionally, LTW will begin inviting STEM students to its continuing series of Executive Exchange programs which focus on information technology and life science issues.

Working with our partners, LTW also intends to sponsor a STEM-focused Executive Exchange event later this year.

Local Tech Wire has been an aggressive provider of STEM coverage in the past, and we will be even more so in the future. In talking with business leaders, many concerns come up. But STEM is the most critical to many of them. Work force preparation is a growing concern in North Carolina and the United States. Companies need more well educated employees who are skilled in STEM.

Our intention with this new section is to help bring more attention to STEM. By involving students, we hope to ultimately encourage more young people to choose a career in STEM.

"The reality is that North Carolina's economic future is tied to having a STEM-educated workforce in all areas of the state, " says Karl Rectanus, leader of the NC STEM Community Collaborative, a state organization working with communities to insure that students engage in rigorous STEM education. "This exciting new section in LTW will provide leaders in the tech and business sectors information to help us all drive STEM education and our economy further faster."

Joe Freddoso, chief executive officer at MCNC, concurs.

“There is a strong link between high-quality STEM education and economic development. Through Local Tech Wire, we will highlight the good work being done in communities all over North Carolina, pose and inspire new ideas, share leading edge news, collaborate with state and national experts, and increase awareness of STEM education to ensure all of our students are prepared for 21st century jobs,” Freddoso said. “This will provide an outlet to gain additional understanding of the role of STEM in our economic prosperity, improved healthcare and care of the environment. Our future depends on it.”

Adds Sam Houston, president of the SMT Center:

”The importance of STEM education applies not only to students, but to the citizens of this state. The future of the state’s economy is knowledge based and that begins with STEM.”

Local Tech Wire welcomes story ideas and contributions. For information about how you, your company, school or organization can participate, contact me via e-mail (rsmith@wral.com))

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Tags: MCNC, Local Firms, STEM education, NC SMT, NC STEM

STEM Education

STEM News is generated through a collaborative effort between the NC STEM Community Collaborative, MCNC, and WRAL Tech Wire. To submit story ideas, please email WTW Editor Rick Smith rsmith@wral.com or Noah Garrett noah@thinkngc.com. Read more articles…

WRAL Tech Wire