Mathworks hosts Massachusetts officials for STEM announcement
By Rick Nelson, Editor-in-Chief -- EDN, October 14, 2009
Natick, MA -- The Mathworks headquarters this morning served as the venue for the Massachusetts Governor and Lieutenant Governor to announce a new STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) educational initiative. Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray signed an executive order establishing the Governor's STEM Advisory Council, which will bring together public and private-sector stakeholders involved with STEM planning and programming, with the goal of increasing student interest in and preparation for STEM careers.
Jack Little, Mathworks president and founder, welcomed the state officials on behalf of the 1500 Mathworks employees in Natick. He said that that as a supporter of STEM initiatives over the years, The Mathworks was honored to host the event. He said that The Mathworks benefits from a workforce educated in STEM disciplines, and he expressed hope that the new initiative would ensure that interest in STEM would be nurtured early in the young and sustained as they grow.
Governor Patrick thanked The Mathworks for putting down deep roots Massachusetts. He said that despite the performance of Massachusetts students, the state can't rest on its laurels. Each success, he said, should be a platform for the next success. All of us, not just those in government or industry, he said, must see that we have a stake in STEM education as we address the challenges of bioengineering and green technology and other key areas. We need to introduce the students to the wonders of calculus and photosynthesis, he said, and give wings to their dreams. "We must all see our stake in developing the leaders and contributors of tomorrow," he concluded, adding that STEM is a critical step in the way forward.
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The new STEM Advisory Council, which Lieutenant Governor Murray will chair, will take a multifaceted approach in its first year, assessing how to best increase the number of STEM programs in schools. The council will advise on the creation and dissemination of a statewide STEM plan with clearly defined goals to be reached over the next five years. The council will work with families and community leaders as well as educators to promote an understanding of STEM disciplines and their importance to students' success.
Lieutenant Governor Murray told The Mathworks employees he is the son of a history teacher and learned that the Massachusetts Constitution is the oldest functioning written constitution in the world. He noted that John Adams included in that constitution a section calling on the legislature to cherish interest in literature and science, and he intimated that the new STEM initiative is part of on ongoing focus of the Commonwealth. He said that the state's investment in technology can't be fully realized without a skilled workforce well trained in the STEM subjects.
The council will build on existing infrastructure and work already implemented by the Patrick administration, including the IT Collaborative, the Readiness Project, the Goddard Council, and the 21st Century Task Force. The council will also leverage work being done in the private sector.
"It is imperative for the Commonwealth to promote STEM careers and courses of study for young people," said Lieutenant Governor Murray. "Reports indicate that Massachusetts students actually outpace the nation in math and science, yet our students' interest in STEM fields remains low. Improving the level of coordination in the state will lead to increased opportunities for students of all ages and help us also retain and attract businesses that need a highly skilled workforce."
The council will consist of members of the public and private sector.
