Society for Science & the Public Statement on Office of Science and Technology Policy Five-Year STEM Plan

Today, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued a five-year strategic plan that represents a call to action for a nationwide collaboration with learners, families, educators, communities and employers to help achieve a “vision for a future where all Americans will have lifelong access to high-quality STEM education and the United States will be the global leader in STEM literacy, innovation and employment.”

The nearly 100-year-old Society for Science & the Public produces the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science competition, the Regeneron Science Talent Search; the world’s largest STEM competition for high school students, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair; and the nation’s premier middle school STEM competition, the Broadcom MASTERS. Hundreds of thousands of students compete in the more than 425 fairs within our Affiliated Fair network. Our alumni have gone on to win some of the top scientific awards in the world, including the Nobel Prize. The Society is also well known for our outreach and equity work aimed at expanding access to quality STEM experiences to underserved communities and our award-winning journalism. 

The Society appreciated the opportunity to provide OSTP with information about STEM learning that helped to inform this strategic plan.

The following statement about the OSTP plan should be attributed to Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science & the Public and Publisher of Science News.

“As one of the nation’s leading STEM education organizations, the Society for Science & the Public is pleased to see that the U.S. Federal Government’s new five-year STEM strategic plan includes a focus on giving students the ability to do authentic STEM research. This type of research, along with hands-on participation in science fairs, are instrumental to growing the next generation of problem-solvers, who are going to tackle global challenges like food security, climate change, and global pandemics; create new industries and new jobs; and ensure the importance of science in public life. Through our affiliated fair network, which includes fairs in every state from rural Mississippi to urban Chicago, we are inspiring students to participate in real-world, experiential learning. Regardless of geography, gender, race or class, all children deserve these opportunities, and the Society will always advocate and work on their behalf.”