You may not be familiar with this word, but it was one of the winning words from the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
ECS employees also know a thing or two about big words: Electrophoresis, thermocouple, hydrodynamic, and efflorescence are a few tricky engineering words. The Scripps National Spelling Bee, an annual event that occurs in Washington, DC each year, spotlights exceptional young minds and is a reminder of the importance of a solid K-12 education.
Promoting education and knowledge about science, technology, engineering, and math (also known as STEM) and sharing the joy of learning are critical not only to our young people, but to our future. According to the STEM Coalition website (http://www.stemedcoalition.org/), there’s a clear connection between STEM education and economic growth. They project that employment in occupations related to STEM – life and physical sciences, computer science, engineering, and mathematics – will grow to more than nine million between 2012 and 2022.
ECS employees throughout our eight subsidiaries understand the importance of helping K-12 students see how cool engineering really is. With their help, kids begin to ask questions like: What’s underneath the ground? How do you build a bridge that won’t fall down? What can I do to help protect the environment and the natural world? These questions serve as an introduction to geology, environmental science, the math and science involved with materials, structures, facilities, and so much more.
The firm has employees from around the country who volunteer their time to help promote these critical areas of study. STEM programs throughout the United States are geared to help students understand that these subjects are not just important, but they can be really fun as well. ECS employees are engaged with a variety of activities, including judging local science fairs, teaching workshops in the classroom, and volunteering to serve on school board STEM committees that help develop the programs that will be used in local schools.
Tune in to our next blog to learn about some of the great work ECS employees are doing to help create the future of engineering.