VIEW FROM HQ
by Dave Mathewson, AMA Executive Director
STEM education and model aviation
We've all heard about STEM education. The acronym STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math.
So why has there been all this attention given to teaching STEM curricula in the classroom? The answer is simple. Although the U.S. has historically led the world in these areas, that's potentially no longer the case: fewer students are choosing these fields as a career path.
According to the U.S. Department of Education:
- Fewer than 20% of high school students are interested in a STEM-based career.
- Upon graduation, even fewer will have proven proficiency in mathematics.
- The U.S. ranks 27th among developed nations in the percentage of college students receiving undergraduate degrees in science or engineering.
- Today, there are more foreign students studying in U.S. graduate schools than U.S. students.
- More than two-thirds of the engineers who receive Ph.D.s from U.S. universities are not U.S. citizens.
The result is a concerning decline in education quality and competitiveness:
- The U.S. ranks 52nd in the quality of mathematics and science education compared with other nations.
- It ranks fifth in overall global competitiveness, and that number is declining.
What does all this have to do with model aviation? Maybe everything. There are dozens of examples of people who had successful STEM careers whose interest was first sparked by a model airplane. Notable aerospace figures who used model aviation as a stepping stone include:
- Neil Armstrong
- Burt Rutan
- Dr. Paul MacCready
- Robert "Hoot" Gibson (five-time Space Shuttle commander and pilot), who today serves as AMA's national ambassador
We've recently seen a resurgence of interest in model aviation by high school and college students as a result of new technologies. AMA is well positioned to plant the seed in students at the elementary, middle, high school, and college levels.
Education outreach has always been an important part of AMA. We've been recognized many times for our work and are proud to have received the 2012 Frank G. Brewer Trophy from the National Aeronautic Association. The Brewer Trophy is awarded annually for significant contributions of enduring value to aerospace education in the U.S.
AMA was recently awarded a grant from the Alcoa Foundation to develop additional programs that use model aviation to teach STEM disciplines. These programs will build on the success of:
- the AMA AeroLab Program
- the Flight Adventures Program (a collaborative effort between AMA, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and NASA)
Programming is only part of the equation for success. The other part is our clubs and members who introduce model aviation in their communities using AMA programming as a foundation. Many clubs already have programs that do this, and countless ones have been exceptionally successful.
The benefits are twofold:
- The primary objective is to teach and help educate students in STEM disciplines.
- At the same time, parents appreciate others who take time to help their children; these parents will likely be the first to step up in support of a club when it faces the potential of losing a flying site or having to find a new one.
The aerospace industry is concerned about where the next generation of aviation and aerospace engineers will come from. During the Apollo era, the average age of a NASA engineer was in the late 20s. Today, the average age is in the mid-50s.
Although reversing the decline in STEM interest seems daunting, we have a role to play if we're willing to accept that responsibility. AMA's Education department is a resource available to our members to help bring educational outreach using model aviation to our communities. Consider taking advantage of what AMA offers and, if your club doesn't yet have an education program, consider implementing one.
It requires work, but the rewards are significant. Who knows — you may help the U.S. retain its position as a world leader in aerospace.
See you next time ...
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
