BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration announced today that the 2022 STEM Summit will be held on April 28 with both in-person and virtual events for educators and employers across the Commonwealth to promote STEM education opportunities for all students and facilitate internships with business partners.
The STEM Summit is hosted jointly by the Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable and the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute, and this year will include a mix of in-person and virtual panel presentations, plenary speakers and networking opportunities. The goal of the STEM Summit is to foster relationships between schools, local colleges, and businesses to benefit students’ educational experiences by expanding opportunities for internships and create a talent pipeline for Massachusetts employers. Massachusetts has held an annual statewide STEM Summit since 2004.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) President Laurie Leshin will be the keynote speaker. Last month President Leshin, a geochemist and space scientist, announced she will step down as WPI president at the end of this academic year to serve as the Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), operated by Caltech for NASA.
“As our economy continues to recover from COVID-19, it will be crucial for young people to develop the hands-on, technical skills that local employers need to grow their businesses,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, STEM Advisory Council Co-Chair. “Now more than ever, we need to bolster connections between the business community and students pursuing STEM curriculum to ensure that all students are ready for careers that are growing in our Commonwealth.”
The Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council is co-chaired by Lt. Governor Polito, Congressman Jake Auchincloss, and Dr. Jeffrey Leiden, executive chairman of Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
“Massachusetts should have the best STEM education in the world. I look forward to advancing that goal at the 2022 STEM Summit,” said Congressman Auchincloss.
Massachusetts has more demand for STEM jobs than almost any other state. Approximately 21 percent of the total Massachusetts workforce is employed in a STEM industry, compared to the national average of 14 percent, and STEM jobs are expected to account for 40 percent of total employment in the Commonwealth by 2028.
“The challenges brought on by the pandemic also provide opportunities to highlight the pivotal role STEM plays in the future of the Massachusetts economy,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “This year we are asking employers to reenergize their commitment to providing both in-person and virtual STEM internships and work-based learning experiences to students across the Commonwealth during this coming summer and throughout the school year so all of us can benefit from a diverse and talented pool of young people with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in STEM fields.”
“The STEM Summit is one of the ways we connect industry leaders, community partners, and educators to ensure all students, particularly young women and those who are underrepresented in STEM, continue to have opportunities they need to succeed,” said Jeffrey Leiden, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Chairman of Vertex. “We hope the Summit makes those valuable connections so more students gain experience from internships.”
Last year’s STEM Summit was a day-long virtual event that focused on mentorships and internships with the theme “Inspire a STEM Start.” More than 1,000 people attended the various panel discussions.
The Baker-Polito Administration recently unveiled a new STEM dashboard which details information about STEM courses offered in schools around the Commonwealth; data on the STEM economy; information on schools that have early college and early career programs; and other applied learning courses offered by i2learning, Project Lead the Way and the Boston Museum of Science. The dashboard is a hub of information about STEM resources and careers, as well as a way to connect the public to the Commonwealth’s Regional STEM Networks. Established in 2004, the Regional STEM Networks serve as a nexus for educators, community leaders and industry partners to further excite and energize students about opportunities in STEM subjects.
For more information about the Summit, visit Mass.gov summit page. |
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