This National STEM Day, let’s take a look at the importance of science, technology and engineering and math in the chemical industry.
STEM is a pathway toward a more sustainable future
Science, technology, engineering, and math are part of our everyday lives, and STEM is essential to the achieving our industry’s safety and sustainability goals. From products to processes, STEM creates sustainable solutions. For example, products like solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles and processes like recycling and water sanitation would not be possible without STEM.
Today, let’s champion the inventions, innovations, and solutions made possible by STEM.
STEM education is a pathway to future success
Did you know that nearly 1 million STEM jobs will be created by 2030? Many of those jobs will be needed in the chemical industry. And, the average wage for STEM occupations is nearly 2x the average wage for non-STEM fields. With more than 500,000 high-paying jobs in the chemical industry today, the growth potential for STEM in our industry is significant.
That’s just one reason why the American Chemistry Council, alongside the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Chemours, and HBCU Week Foundation partnered to establish the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative, or FOSSI. FOSSI helps brings diverse students into STEM fields by helping to eliminate financial barriers to higher education and providing direct engagement with companies who will hire many of these future STEM jobs.
To date, FOSSI has welcomed nearly 300 scholars and raised almost $30 million in just two short years – building diverse future history makers and solution providers.
Interested in getting in getting involved? Learn more at FutureOfSTEMScholars.org and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook today!
STEM has an important role in our industry and the world. But, don’t just take our word for it.
Hear more from Luisa Dickson, Senior Scientist at Univar on her journey to STEM and a STEM career.