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Murray promotes STEM education at MacDuffie

Date: 12/14/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



SPRINGFIELD - On Oct. 14, Gov. Deval Patrick enacted Executive Order No. 513, establishing the Governor's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Advisory Council. "To compete in the global economy and with other states, Massachusetts needs to leverage more effectively its resources in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math; enhance the state's STEM workforce; increase the number of high-skills STEM jobs; and keep high school and college graduates living in the Commonwealth," the order stated.

Now, Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, chair of the STEM Advisory Council, is traveling the state gathering input and answering questions about the field that was described as "essential to deliver the high quality education and workforce training needed to prepare each resident for life and work" in the Executive Order.

Murray, along with Janine Fondon of Unity First, an online news service targeting the diverse community and media, and Kathryn Gibson, Head of School for the MacDuffie School, spoke with students at the prep school last Tuesday about the importance of the STEM fields in their futures.

"Life is full of ironies," Murray joked at the beginning of the session. "I'm talking to you about STEM and none of those fields was an area of strength for me." Still, Murray said he recognized the importance of those fields in his life.

"I have a better appreciation for the role STEM has in ... future jobs," he stated. He listed careers in healthcare, manufacturing and green technologies as examples.

"It's critically important we have young people excited and interested in STEM fields in Massachusetts," he added.

Students from MacDuffie's journalism program interviewed Murray on a variety of topics revolving around STEM, from how to increase diversity in the field - Murray said to get more women and minorities involved, they need to be encouraged and rewarded - to how to build confidence in students who may be intimidated by science, technology, engineering or math. Murray said more positive peer pressure is needed. "On a societal level we have a better appreciation for science. Look at 'CSI,' one of the most popular shows on television. It's an hour of science. We need to point out role models and make it more exciting."

Murray also said that we need to set goals for good things to come about. He noted the race to space in the mid-20th century and the USSR's launch of Sputnik. Because of that, the U.S. created the National Education Defense Act, and a few years later President John F. Kennedy said we'd be the first to put a man on the moon. "We have the opportunity now to light that spark again," Murray said.

And that spark can come from anyone. When asked what level a student should perform at to enter the STEM fields, Murray replied that those taking advanced placement exams are good indicators of how successful a student can be, but all that is really needed is an interest in one of the areas.

He noted that one of the most exciting industries right now is robotics - from clubs springing up in high schools across the Commonwealth to inventions from the Roomba vacuum cleaner to those that can detect improvised explosive devices. Another growing industry is the gaming industry. The popular "Rock Band" video game was developed in Massachusetts.

When asked if there were any economic stimulus funds set aside for STEM, Murray said money had been used to expand broadband access across the state and that the STEM Advisory Council is creating a five-year plan that would open Massachusetts up for more funding opportunities.

"The council will work to help all young people access information and learn more about STEM," Murray told Reminder Publications. "And it's not just for young people; we'll be doing worker retraining as well."

As for the funding for STEM programs, Murray said the administration has avoided cuts to Chapter 70 funding for schools so far and will continue to do so.

"We know other cuts [like the one in regional transportation] have had a real impact, but we're being aggressive about pursuing STEM grant funding," Murray stated.

As for the question and answer session itself, Fondon said she thought it went well. "Unity First wants to be supportive of any and all efforts to engage youth in STEM, and any time we engage the lieutenant governor and students, it's fantastic," she said.