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The STEAM Summit draws more than 2,000 middle and high school students in the greater Rochester area to the RCTC Regional Sports Center annually to experience a variety of interactive activities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art & design, and mathematics career pathways. It brings together nearly 100 exhibitors who demonstrate potential careers, skills, and higher education opportunities in these fields.The future success of greater Rochester's economy depends on a well-informed, well-prepared pipeline of students with the education and skills needed to keep area businesses and industries competitive. Each year, the STEAM Summit brings together these businesses, educational institutions, local government and other community organizations to motivate and prepare our students for an increasingly competitive global marketplace. The STEAM Summit proves to these Greater Rochester area students that they don't need to travel far from home to gain valuable work experience, opportunity abounds right here in Southeastern Minnesota!
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STEM to STEAM
The Rochester Chamber of Commerce Foundation is proud to take part in the advancement of the “STEM to STEAM” movement. From 2016 onward, the annual STEM Summit has become the STEAM Summit, factoring Art & Design into the equation.
The STEAM movement was initiated by the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), under the notion that we need to re-inject creativity into the STEM subjects in order to drive innovation. The RISD STEM to STEAM founding group proclaims that, “Art & Design are poised to transform our economy in the 21st century just as science and technology did in the last century.” Their cited objectives of the movement are to:
- Transform research policy to place Art + Design at the center of STEM
- Encourage integration of Art + Design in K–20 education
- Influence employers to hire artists and designers to drive innovation
For more information, visit their website at http://stemtosteam.org/
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Growth
In 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that STEM occupations made up more than 1 out of every 10 jobs in the U.S., with wages approaching nearly twice the national average. Year after year occupations in STEM fields continue to grow faster than the national average.From 2015 to 2025, employment in STEM occupations is projected to grow by 10.1%, while employment in non-STEM occupations is expected to increase only 6.5%. Further still, these projections do not include health occupations, which are expected to be the largest driver of occupational growth in the next decade.
This information is from the Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections.