FIU and STEM study

FIU President Mark Rosenberg faces two challenges leading the National STEM Committee.

First, he must seize the counterproductive flight from STEM majors by students over the past 20 years.

Second, in order for our nation to continue our technological superiority, faculty advisers must steer Hispanic Americans into STEM-related programs.

As a Venezuelan-American parent of a STEM Honors High School student, I know Hispanic students will benefit from STEM-related education for their future as workers in the changing economy.

It is through curiosity and research that world economies advance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

This process is more important than having the knowledge itself, and it is why we must step away from memorization and get back to figuring things out in a variety of ways.

Rosenberg’s greatest legacy can be dramatically increasing the number of college graduates in STEM, but also exponentially growing the number of Hispanics in STEM careers, as Hispanic Americans are the nation’s fast growing population.

This story was originally published February 7, 2016 at 12:00 PM with the headline "FIU and STEM study."