Despite years of effort, diversifying the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) remains a challenge. In fact, in 2019, underrepresented minorities held only nine percent of academic positions in science, engineering and health, according to a report from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Now, researchers at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian are pursuing a new avenue to help address this problem: astronomy.
“Our research suggests that astronomy, especially when experienced in personally and culturally relevant contexts, can be an early gateway to attract youth to STEM,” says Mary Dussault, a science educator at the Center for Astrophysics (CfA). “Astronomy has a broad appeal, with its prevalence in the news and popular culture, along with the fact that we all have big questions about our place in space and time, which are deeply existential.”
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IMAGE: A YouthAstroNet participant uses his newly acquired image analysis skills to create a composite image of an exploded star using real data from Chandra X-ray Observatory. view more
Credit: Mary Dussault / Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
Cambridge, MA ¬- Despite years of effort, diversifying the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) remains a challenge. In fact, in 2019, underrepresented minorities held only 9 percent of academic positions in science, engineering and health, according to a report from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Now, researchers at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian are pursuing a new avenue to help address this problem: astronomy.