Upload
garret-fitzpatrick
View
1.689
Download
1
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
State of the
STEM Workforce STS-127 Pre-launch Education Forum
Amanda Stiles NASA Ames Research Center
Garret Fitzpatrick NASA Johnson Space Center
12 JUNE 2009
Science Technology Engineering Mathematics
What is STEM?
Why is it
Important?
“Today, more than ever before,
science holds the key to our survival as a planet and our security and prosperity as a nation.
It’s time we once again put science
at the top of our agenda and work to restore America’s place as the world leader in
science and technology.”
President Obama Science Team Rollout Radio Address December 17th, 2008
Why is it
Important?
STEM makes up
less than 5% of the nation’s workforce,
but has a high impact on the economy of the nation.
Why is it
Important?
Technology accounts for
1/2 of GDP growth in industrialized nations.
Why is it
Important?
“Economic studies conducted even before the information-technology revolution have shown that as much as
85% of measured growth in US income per capita was due to
technological change.”
–National Science Foundation; Rising Above the Gathering Storm.
But STEM in the
United States is in trouble.
Why is there a problem?
“By the year 2000, U.S. students will be the first in the world in mathematics and science achievement.”
- U.S. Dept. of Education’s National Commission on Excellence in Education; A Nation At Risk
(1983)
Why is there a problem?
Why is there a problem?
In 2006, out of 26 developed
countries, the U.S. ranked
22nd in math and
19th in science
in middle school test scores.
Why is there a problem?
Percentage of undergraduates majoring in engineering in 2006:
• Europe: • Singapore: • China: • U.S.:
12% 20% 40% 6%
Why is there a problem?
So our STEM test scores are down
and our STEM numbers relative to other competing nations are down, too.
Why is there a problem?
This does not
bode well for the future of the
U.S. STEM workforce.
Why is there a problem?
This does not
bode well for the future of the
NASA workforce.
Why is there a problem?
How can we expect
to lead the world
in
technical achievement
if all the
technical expertise
resides elsewhere?
Bold endeavors
Discovery
Exploring new frontiers
Innovation
Why is there a problem?
How can we expect
to lead the world
in
technical achievement
if our own
technical expertise
becomes second-rate?
Bold endeavors
Discovery
Exploring new frontiers
Innovation
Generation
Y Which brings us to Generation Y.
The newest
generation to enter
the workforce.
Generation Y will have a
big role in the future
state of STEM in the U.S. Generation
Y
So what is the
outlook for Generation Y at NASA?
Generation
Y
Generation Y actually makes up a
huge percentage
of the U.S. workforce.
Generation
Y
Number of Births in U.S. by Generation
Authors’ note: The term “Next Gen” defined as combination of Gen X & Y
Yet, there’s only
a small percentage
of Gen Y in NASA’s
workforce.
Generation
Y
Percentage of Workforce by 5-Year Age Band
Next Gen Baby Boomer 25% of U.S. workforce is under 30.
Only 4% of NASA’s workforce is under 30.
And this is
common across all NASA centers.
Generation
Y
This shortage of Gen Y in the workforce leads to gaps in
communication, career expectations, development, knowledge sharing,
leadership, and
technical experience.
Generation
Y
Ultimately, this
shortage has a direct effect on
mission success.
Generation
Y
If we don’t get
enough Gen Y personnel in the
workforce…
…our
future leaders will not have the experience
necessary to tackle the tough
challenges ahead.
Generation
Y
NASA is
taking steps to prepare for the future
&
engaging its own Generation Y employees to address workforce strategies.
Generation
Y
So what can we do to prepare for the future?
First of all,
the world is different today than it was in the 60’s.
It’s a Different World
In the 60’s…
NASA inspired millions to enter STEM fields because of a
bold goal,
visionary leadership, and
real threat of the
Cold War.
It’s a Different World
Lone Superpower
Different challenges
Economy
Terrorism
Energy
Climate Change
Different national agenda
Different
national status in the world
It’s a Different World
But our values haven’t changed.
1. To instill within ourselves these essential qualities of leadership in pursuit of technical and professional excellence...
Foundations of
Mission Operations
Discipline ...Being able to follow as well as to lead, knowing we must master ourselves before we can master our task.
Competence. ...There being no substitute for total preparation and complete dedication, for space will not tolerate the careless or indifferent.
Confidence ...Believing in ourselves as well as others, knowing t that we must master fear and hesitation before we can succeed.
Responsibility ...Realizing that it cannot be shifted to others, for it belongs to each of us; we must answer for what we do, or fail to do.
Toughness ...Taking a stand when we must; to try again, and again, even if it means following a more difficult path.
Teamwork ...Respecting and utilizing the abilities of others, realizing that we work toward a common goal, for success depends upon the efforts of all.
Vigilance ... Always attentive to the dangers of spaceflight; Never accepting success as a substitute for rigor in everything we do.
2. To always be aware that suddenly and unexpectedly we may find ourselves in a role where our performance has ultimate consequences.
Foundations of
Mission Operations
3. To recognize that the greatest error is not to have tried and failed, but that in the trying we do not give it our best effort.
Foundations of
Mission Operations
We still have the
same drive to explore
to understand the universe
to seek out new challenges
to bring people together
to create the future
Creating the
Future
But today we have the potential to take a new role as an agency and a country.
Today, we can
lead the world by facilitating involvement and participation (across all nations, generations, organizations, etc.) in the exploration of space.
Creating the
Future
To do so, one place to start from is the bottom of the ladder.
Generation Y.
Creating the
Future
(That’s YOU!) Creating
the Future
(and us…) Creating
the Future
Engaging Generation Y isn’t all about
catering to young people.
It’s also about re-engaging all generations.
Creating the
Future
Engaging Generation Y is actively
creating the future instead of passively reacting to the present.
Creating the
Future
Engaging Generation Y is
setting the tone for positive change in the agency
by empowering employees to take control of
their own future.
Creating the
Future
And there’s a ton of exciting things happening at NASA to do just that.
Creating the
Future
Current activities happening all over the agency are…
Creating new, innovative
opportunities for
growth
Current Activities
Current activities happening all over the agency are…
Utilizing emerging technologies
to increase
workforce effectiveness
and
technical competence.
Current Activities
Current activities happening all over the agency are…
Connecting the
NASA team Current
Activities
Current activities happening all over the agency are…
Sharing the
NASA story
Current Activities
Current activities happening all over the agency are…
Re-establishing and
Re-integrating
core values
Current Activities
YOU will play a pivotal role in creating
NASA’s future.
It’s all
YOU YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU! YOU!
TU!
YOU!
YOU!
Not me!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
U!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
(So don’t blow it.) It’s all
YOU
Be patient. Message
to Gen Y
It will take time, energy, and relentless dedication to maintain and enhance the standards of excellence it will take to achieve our future missions.
But it will be worth it.
Learn Learn Learn. Message
to Gen Y
Learn all that you can from your mentors and peers. Approach learning with humility and grace. Challenge accepted assumptions to better understand WHY things are done a certain way before trying to change them.
Step up. Message
to Gen Y
Neither the United States nor NASA were built by passive acceptance, but by active involvement from passionate individuals dedicated to a common mission for the benefit of future generations. Honor their legacy by stepping up to the challenges of our time.
Make a difference. Message
to Gen Y
The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
- Alan Kay Computer Scientist
1971
Message to
Gen Y Make a difference So what do you want to make?
References [4-5] “The STEM Workforce Challenge: the Role of the Public Workforce System in a National Solution for a Competitive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce.” U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. (2007).
[6, 10] “Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future.” Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century. (2007). Washington, DC:
National Academies Press.
[9] Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), PISA 2006 Results, http://www.oecd.org/
[20-24] “The State of the Next Generation of Explorers” by Garth Henning and Richard Leshner, NASA Office of
Program Analysis and Evaluation, 2006 (updated 2008).