I attended two days of the USA Science and Engineering festival last weekend. I wish I knew it was actually a three day festival as I would have increased my opportunity to experience new ideas by 33%.
The festival itself was more incredible than I feel I can espouse. There were hundreds of exhibits and an estimated 325,000 people for the weekend. We saw Bill Nye, learned about atom smashing, sustainability, robotics, stem cell research, and so much more. Booths from NASA, Lockheed Martin, multiple government agencies, universities and NGOs captured the attention of myself and thousands of children, the very people most invested in the future.
Interestingly enough there always has to be someone that doesn’t get invited to the party. I found a small flyer hanging above the water fountain in the corner. It said something like “Find out the truth about STEM careers.” This flyer was like the type you find at the laundromat with little paper tabs you can rip off. I took a copy of the URL and dropped it in my bag of goodies I had started accumulating.
This morning which is a week after the festival, I pulled the URL out and finally went to see what this person had to say. I had built up some pretty hefty expectations that it would be a 50 second visit. Was the content going to be a some radical religious-based argument that we should just give up now and await our saving? Was it a hack against the people organizing the festival? Some disgust over the number of military contractors at the show, along with the NSA and their High-school spy recruiting program?
It was none of these, and it was far less dismissible than any of those. It was a blog put up by a self-identified experienced engineer. It was written in an entirely anecdotal and subjective manner. It was however a reasonable insightful accounting of this persons perception on the emphasis placed on STEM careers.
I had to stop and think how could I help this person understand they are looking at their dilemma in completely the wrong fashion.
I agree a little with what he says, but I have two major issues with this site and argument.
- The author has chosen to stay anonymous. If you have something to say about a serious subject, you should be prepared to stand behind what you say. Have any published work? Who are you to be talking about this subject?
- The entire argument is subjective! The URL and title for the site include the word FACT! The author even indicates in the second comment he hasn’t bothered to research anything. Hmm… that means this is just his opinion. But this person is a an engineer and they should know the difference between FACT and OPINION.
I have a major concern when people like this blogger open their mouth. Not only are you promoting your own personal jaded view of technology, you are using some pretty amazing technology to spread that message! Write a newspaper article next time.
Really though the article was a good exercise for me as I’ve been reminded again about how optimistic my perspective for the future is. The world is an incredible place and it’s only becoming more and more incredible every day. We need to double-down on the inclusion of STEM in every aspect of life, not grumbling about it! There is more potential now than ever before for humanity to overcome the challenges that face the world.
It’s too bad that not everyone yet shares my optimism or enthusiasm for the incredible changes that are coming to our existence. Replying to blogs like this may just be one more small way I can contribute to helping other people reach the same perspectives as I have.
Technology continues to be mind blowing, the pace of radical change in the world is speeding up and the Future is going to be amazing!
You can read the original article here: http://stemcareerfacts.com/
Be sure to check out my comment, I tried to offer a positive rebuttal so the author rediscovers their passion and interest in science.