Office of Science and Technology Policy Blog

Unified House Applauds Administration Efforts in Science, Math Education

Who says Congress disagrees about everything? Yesterday, the House of Representative voted 378-2 to pass a resolution drawing congratulatory attention to President Obama’s efforts to improve science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and the Administration’s Educate to Innovate campaign, which has inspired an “all hands on deck” effort by volunteers, industry, philanthropies, and others to help students get excited about STEM subjects and careers.

The House resolution specifically offers kudos to National Lab Day, a nationwide initiative to build local communities of support that will foster ongoing collaborations among volunteers, students and science educators. It’s an effort that the First Lady highlighted this week as she cheered on the final teams at National Science Bowl. As the First Lady put it:

That's why my husband and his administration want to ensure that every single child in this country gets a good education, particularly in math and science.

Next week’s National Lab Day is a great example of what this might look like—this kind of investment. The President has highlighted his grassroots effort, which brings together scientists like Secretary Chu, organizations representing teachers, scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and local volunteers to work with young people in fun hands-on learning.

These students are going to be with us, they’re going to launch rockets, construct miniature windmills, and learn by doing and not just by listening.

We want to bring more hands-on learning like this to students by also modernizing science labs and supporting project-based learning, and expanding advanced courses in schools throughout the country.

We want to create more opportunities for under-represented groups as well, particularly women and girls. We want them to have the confidence; we want all our young women to have the confidence and the support to take on the study and to succeed in the study of science, math, engineering and technology.

And we want to build communities of support for all the teachers who make these subjects come alive for our students. We couldn't do it without you.

The President, First Lady, and 378 members of Congress can’t all be wrong! So get involved with National Lab Day by volunteering, posting a project, or making a video. May 12 is National Lab Day.

Kumar Garg is a Policy Analyst in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

OSTP Director Holdren Speaks Out for Girls in Science, Math, and Engineering

OSTP Director John Holdren today participated in a roundtable discussion about gender equity in math and science education, organized by Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. The event, held at the Willard Hotel and moderated by NBC Capitol Hill Correspondent Kelly O’Donnell, was designed to bring together luminaries from the education, business, and policymaking arenas to discuss the critical need for students, particularly girls, to pursue studies and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Dr. Ride is President and CEO of Sally Ride Science, a science education company that creates programs and products for students and teachers in elementary and middle school. As America’s first woman in space (she flew twice, first in 1983 aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger and again aboard Challenger in 1984) and as the first director of NASA’s Office of Exploration, Dr. Ride has a longstanding interest in encouraging girls to pursue coursework and careers in science and engineering.

Other participants in the discussion included Dr. Laurie Leshin, NASA’s Deputy Director for Science and Technology, and Dr. Cora Marrett, Acting Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation.

In the 4th grade, panelists noted, the number of girls and boys who say they like math and science is about the same. By 8th grade, twice as many boys as girls show an interest in these subjects. Much of the discussion focused on the need for more female role models in science and engineering. Studies suggest that because of the lack of female scientist role models in the media, many girls do not see themselves as "doers" of science.

“We need to step up our efforts in science, technology, engineering, and math education in this country, capturing and holding the interest in these subjects of more girls and boys alike,” said Dr. Holdren, the sole holder of a Y chromosome on the panel. “Getting this done is one of President Obama’s highest priorities.”

Panelists discussed the need for an "all hands on deck effort" and the contributions that everyone can make, such as getting involved in National Lab Day, one part of the President's Educate to Innovate initiative.

The panel capped a week of high-profile meetings for the OSTP Director. On Thursday he co-chaired, with Russian Minister of Education and Science Andrey Fursenko, the first full-committee meeting of the Science and Technology Working Group under the US-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission. Fursenko brought a delegation that included Ambassador Edward Malayan from the Foreign Ministry. The U.S. delegation included officials from the Departments of Energy, State, Commerce/NOAA, and Interior/USGS, as well as the NSF, NASA, and others.

On Tuesday Dr. Holdren gave the opening keynote address at a strategic planning meeting that engaged leaders from the 13 participating agencies of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, to discuss in part ongoing efforts to strengthen Administration activities in the domains of climate observations and assessment, adaptation research and planning, and climate services.