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About the STEM Center

Mission and Goals

The mission of Carnegie Science Center’s Center for STEM Education and Career Development is to inspire more young people to consider and pursue careers in STEM fields, and to cultivate a STEM-literate community.

  • Collaboration: to bring together all stakeholders to focus on STEM education in our region with a multifaceted approach that addresses student programming, teacher training, business and industry needs, and government initiatives. The STEM Center provides a focused forum for collaboration among key STEM education stakeholders, including pre K-12 school districts, Pennsylvania Intermediate Units, colleges and universities, technical schools, business and industry, workforce and career development organizations, economic development organizations, foundations, government, parents and caregivers, and providers of informal education.
  • Great Teaching: to strengthen STEM teaching at all grade levels, pre-K through 12, by helping to shape a core of highly capable and inspirational STEM teachers through strategic partnerships that advance research-based best practices in the classroom, including inquiry-based instruction, and integrated curriculum, and project-based group learning.
  • Inspired Learners: to inspire student appreciation and excitement for STEM subjects and careers by engaging students in hands-on, real-world applications of STEM and first-hand interactions with professionals in these fields, to increase success and achievement in school and opportunities for post-secondary education, especially among females and students of color.
  • A Committed Community: to achieve, through a public awareness initiative and the nurturing of partnerships, a sustained commitment to improving STEM education through innovation, communication, collaboration, evaluation and data-based decision making from a broad cross-section of the community, including business leaders, government officials, STEM educators, parents, and other stakeholders.

Vision

  • To provide experiences for schools and the public that promote interest and participation in regional growth areas: biotechnology, information technology, robotics, advanced materials processes, energy and the environment, and nanotechnology.
  • To connect participants with leading professionals in a fun, dynamic atmosphere.

Thank you to our sponsors, who aid in making STEM accessible to all students!