Learning Everywhere: STEM Education Outside the Classroom

The Subcommittee on Research and Science Education has always been a champion for improving Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. During the 111 th Congress, the committee is continuing this commitment by holding its first hearing to look “Beyond the Classroom: Informal STEM Education”.

Informal STEM education is learned outside of the classroom – museums, science centers, zoos, aquariums, environmental centers, radio, television, and the Internet. According to the most recent ten year employment projections by the U.S. Labor Department, of the 20 fastest growing occupations projected for 2014, 15 require significant mathematics or science preparation to successfully compete for a job. Unfortunately, American students are falling in international rankings of math and science, and fewer American students are graduating from college with math and science degrees. A new report by the National Academies, “Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits”found that informal environments can have a significant impact on STEM learning outcomes in historically underrepresented groups and may be uniquely positioned to make STEM education accessible to all.

"That is why I am interested in the role of informal education in attracting more people to STEM fields, especially those who are not typically exposed to these areas in their communities," said Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Lipinski. "We ought to look at ways in which informal STEM environments may be uniquely positioned to make STEM learning accessible to a broader demographic by helping formal educators excite and engage their students."

Read more about the Committee’s work on STEM education >>

 

Subcommittee Jurisdiction

Committee Rule 11(a)(3)

Legislative jurisdiction and general oversight and investigative authority on all matters relating to science policy and science education including:

1. the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
2. all scientific research, and scientific and engineering resources (including human resources), math, science and engineering education;
3. intergovernmental mechanisms for research, development, and demonstration and cross-cutting programs;
4. international scientific cooperation;
5. National Science Foundation, including earthquake programs;
6. university research policy, including infrastructure and overhead;
7. university research partnerships, including those with industry;
8. science scholarships;
9. computing, communications, and information technology;
10. research and development relating to health, biomedical, and nutritional programs;
11. to the extent appropriate, agricultural, geological, biological and life sciences research; and
12. materials research, development, and demonstration and policy.