National Science Board Releases an Interactive Online STEM Education Resource Website

The National Science Board (NSB) recently released an interactive STEM Education Resource Website which provides data, trends, and analysis about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and careers. The new service includes observations and findings on student proficiency, college STEM degrees, and jobs in science-related occupations. Based on data from the Science and Engineering Indicators , the website includes information in the form of central questions organized by education level.

The resource framework is based on 60 specific questions which are divided into topics aimed at STEM education at the pre-kindergarten and primary school levels to middle, high school and college. Also included is a section on science and engineering careers which includes information about STEM job growth and occupations. The links to these questions provide data, graphical material and analysis such that viewers can have access to detailed information.

Question subjects include childhood development, education progress, financial issues, college degrees, enrollment, job markets, labor force, and salaries. The website uses graphs, maps and data to answer common policy questions. Key observations and findings are presented along with the data.

The Science and Engineering Indicators report includes both U.S. and international information on STEM fields. By law, it is delivered to the President and Congress every two years. The latest version, published in 2014, is available on the new STEM Education Resource Website. A link to the National Science Board is also included. Information found in the Science and Engineering Indicators includes elementary and secondary mathematics and science education, higher education in science and engineering, science and engineering labor force data, national trends and international comparisons in research and development, academic research and development, state-level science and engineering data, information about industry and the global marketplace as well as public attitudes and understanding of science and technology.

The NSB is made up of 25 Members appointed by the President. Members represent a variety of science and engineering fields and include industry and university representatives. With the development of this online tool, the Board’s hope is that discussions about STEM education and workforce will not be limited to generalized statements and can instead by based on facts about “what’s really going on, how we’re doing and where we’re headed,” according to Kevin Droegemeier, vice chairman of the NSB.