STEM - -

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

Skills in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) are becoming an increasingly important part of basic literacy in today’s knowledge economy. To keep Europe growing, we will need one million additional researchers by 2020. Yet science education can no longer be viewed as elite training for future scientists or engineers; only science-aware citizens can make informed decisions and engage in dialogue on science-driven societal issues.

European Schoolnet is at the forefront of the debate on how to attract more people to science and technology to address the future skills gap that Europe is facing. STEM is one of European Schoolnet’s major thematic domains; we have been involved in more than 30 STEM education initiatives, financed through European Schoolnet members, industry partners, or by European Union’s funding programmes.

The portfolio of European Schoolnet STEM projects ranges from teacher training (Amgen Science Teacher Training Initiative) and innovative teaching practice (Pathway), to technology enhanced learning (Go-Lab, Global excursion), and science awareness for schools (Xperimania, FuturEnergia).

European Schoolnet is also leading the work of two strategic initiatives in science and maths education in Europe: inGenious and Scientix.

inGenious: the European Coordinating Body in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths education

Through a partnership with the European Round Table of Industrialists, the objective of inGenious (ingenious-science.eu) is to strengthen the link between science education and careers in STEM fields. With a grant from the European Commission's 7th Framework Programme, and the support of major international industry partners, inGenious is one of the largest science education projects in Europe.

All the actions of inGenious aim to improve the image of STEM and STEM careers among young people and encourage them to think about the wide range of opportunities that working in science provides.

Scientix: Building the Science and Maths Education Community in Europe

Scientix (scientix.eu) promotes teaching materials from STEM research projects, and supports Europe-wide collaboration among science and maths teachers, researchers, policymakers and other professionals in STEM education. Originally an initiative of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, the project is now managed under the EU’s 7^th Framework Programme.

See all the STEM projects.