As the tulips break through the lawns of Western New York this April, City of Buffalo Public School students will celebrate more than just the sun shining; local college students will convene in Buffalo schools to highlight science, technology, engineering, and math–and how immersing yourself in these disciplines can lift up your career and community.
Dubbed Science Week, the immersion is for a good reason. It’s not a secret that these four focuses–also called STEM–offer big payouts. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be tremendous growth of each sector in the next decade:
- Computer and mathematical occupations: 18% employment increase
- Mathematical science occupations: 26.1%
- Architecture and engineering occupations: 7.3%
- Life, physical, and social science occupations: 10.1%
The catch? Almost all of the jobs included in these four big-growth areas require at least a bachelor’s degree. That’s why college students from Buffalo State College, Erie Community College, and the University at Buffalo are mentoring their younger counterparts.
By likely earning a comfortable income by training and working in one of these careers, the entire community is lifted; basic economics tells us that these professionals will spend more money at the local market and shopping center, pay higher taxes, volunteer, and even maintain a cleaner neighborhood.
That’s why the City of Buffalo is also strongly supporting Science Week; it views it as an investment in the Western New York city’s successful and ongoing pursuit of revitalization. Buffalo Public Schools superintendent Pamela C. Brown explains:
In offering our students a world-class education, it is important that they and their teachers are learning about STEM fields, in which hundreds of thousands of high-paying jobs opportunities will be available to them in this global economy.
Science Week is facilitated by the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Partnership with the Buffalo Public Schools, which is funded by a $9.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
So much fun!
Top photo: Futuristic City 2 by Joakim Olofsson on DeviantArt