A Senate bill passed Friday encouraging Missouri high school students to take computer science classes and an online class about STEM careers, and two local groups hope to keep spreading STEM awareness for Missouri students.
The University of Missouri Colleges of Engineering and Education are hosting a STEM camp this weekend for low-income and underrepresented elementary school students.
Students will learn college-level science and engineering concepts by doing age-appropriate activities. Tojan Rahhal is the director of the diversity and outreach initiative and an adjunct assistant professor in biomedical engineering at the College of Engineering.
She says there is a lot of interest in the camp, and she wants as many students as possible to be able to participate.
“There’s lot of avenues, and I think having that STEM career awareness aspect is really important for these young kids as they decide what they want to do with their lives,” Rahhal said.
Another organization, the Columbia STEM Alliance, works with Columbia Public Schools to fill the gap in local STEM education and focuses especially on educating marginalized students.
Craig Adams is the executive director of the Columbia STEM Alliance, a not-for-profit group. He says this bill gives students the opportunities they need.
“This focus on career pathways and where kids want to see themselves—if it’s in STEM, great,” Adams said. “I think that’s going to be good for the state of Missouri and good for the nation.”
Adams says STEM careers are important for driving local economic development and is hopeful the bill will expose more students to career options.