The Huffington Post – David D. Etzwiler
“Science fairs had a rough 2015…Critics were saying that science fairs were not achieving what they were supposed to. Instead of generating more interest in science, technology, engineering, and math — the STEM fields — they were inspiring races to the bottom, a constant reheating of unimaginative projects proven to get a good grade…That said, we would encourage parents and educators alike to embrace their science fairs more, not hate them. STEM, after all, is nothing less than the language of our new and still-rapidly changing digital economy. Jobs in these fields are growing three times faster than any other sector of our economy, and yet only 16 percent of American high school seniors, according to the U.S. Department of Education, are proficient in math and even interested in STEM. Science fairs and competitions are helping to close this skills gap…Science fairs, when done right, focus students on solving problems, not just acing tests…they continue to nurture the spirit of innovation that guides success in our global economy.”(more)