The S in STEM Stands For Science

Why is Science Important in STEM?

The use of scientific knowledge serves to meet many basic human needs and improve living conditions, which is why science is appreciated by society.

Energy, conservation, agriculture, health, transportation, communication, military, economics, leisure, and exploration are all areas where science informs public policy and personal decisions.

Science Is All Around Us!

Cooking, eating, breathing, driving, and playing all entail science. Everything we wear, from the cloth we wear to the brush and paste we use, to the shampoo, talcum powder, and oil we use, is a result of scientific progress.

Without all of this, life would be incomprehensible, as it has become a necessity.

Careers In Science

A group of jobs in the field of science is referred to as science careers. Careers in science include fields such as:

Agriculture, human health, environmental protection, biofuels, and pharmaceuticals are all examples of biotechnology.

Biology, ecology, immunology, neuroscience, medicine, and conservation are all examples of biological science.

Chemistry, physics, astronomy, oceanography, atmospheric science, and geology are all examples of natural science.

Veterinary science is a field of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of animal injuries and diseases.

Science Activities For K-12

Recreating a Water Cycle In A Bag (Grades K-6)

Ever wondered why it rains? For this experiment, you will need a plastic zip-lock bag, a permanent marker, water, blue food coloring, and clear tape.

First, you need to decorate your bag! Use your marker to draw a sky with clouds and the sun on the upper half of the bag. Next, mix a cup of water and few drops of blue food coloring to create a new solution. Then, pour the solution 1/3 way of the bag and zip it closed. Once it is sealed up, hang it on a window with two pieces of tape on the top corners of the bag. You want to pick the window that receives the most sunshine.

Droplets of water will start to stick to the side of the bag eventually. Some of these will be high in the sky (in the clouds), while others will be descending (like rain). Why? It's because the water in the bag is heating up due to the sun shining through the window. Evaporation is the process by which water turns into a gas.

Evaporated water vapor escapes into the atmosphere in nature, but because it has nowhere to go in our bag, it sticks to the sides and condenses back into a liquid. As "rain," the condensed water pours back into the pool of water below.

Making a Solar Oven to Roast S'mores (Grades 7-8)

Want to make s'mores in a pizza box? A cardboard pizza box, a pencil, a ruler, scissors, foil, transparent tape, black construction paper, plastic wrap, newspapers, an oven mitt, a dish, a thermometer, and s'mores components are all required for this project.

If there is any remaining cheese or crumbs, make sure to wipe the pizza box before using it. Draw a square one inch from the top of the box with the pencil and ruler.
Three of the square's four sides should be cut away. To make a flap that stands up, crease the uncut side.
To cover the inner side of the flap, cut a piece of foil. Wrap it up carefully and tape it down.
Use the black construction paper to line the bottom of the box.
Cut two pieces of plastic wrap that are the same size as the box's top.
Tape them to the inside edges of the square window to create an airtight seal.
Roll the newspapers into tubes and stuff them into the box's sides (it should still be able to close).
Cook your s'mores using the oven and the sun (ideally between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.).

Student Conformity Experiment (Grades 9-12)

Sitting amongst a huge group of students, the instructor asks the class what 9 x 7 means. It is 54, according to one pupil. The following one follows suit. Do you have complete confidence in your answer of 63? We are influenced by the opinions of those around us, and we occasionally conform to their beliefs. You can investigate the impact of social pressure on conformity.

Hypothesis Example:

Student compliance will not be affected by the quantity of pupils.
Student compliance is unaffected by age.
Student compliance is unaffected by gender.

Female Scientists That Changed The World

Rachel Carson, an environmental scientist, soared above the rest in the 1960s to become a prominent figure in American politics, culture, and foreign policy. Her book, "Silent Spring," was a watershed moment in American environmental history, warning of the hazards of pesticides and chemicals to humans, plants, and animals.

Dr. Gladys West was in charge of the math that led to the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Her crucial work at the US Naval Weapons Laboratory aided in the discovery of planets in the solar system as well as Earth in outer space. She was the one who programmed the math and calculations for the complicated computer that became known as a GPS.

Chien-Shiung Wu was a Chinese-American experimental and particle physicist who made important contributions to nuclear and particle physics. Wu worked on the Manhattan Project, where she assisted in the development of a gaseous diffusion process for separating uranium into uranium-235 and uranium-238 isotopes. At the K-25 Plant in Oak Ridge, this procedure was repeated on a large scale.

Jenara Vicenta Arnal Yarza was the first woman in Spain to earn a doctorate in chemistry. Her work in electrochemistry and study into the production of fluorine from potassium biflouride earned her acclaim. Later in life, she was honored for her contributions to scientific instruction at the basic and secondary levels, with a focus on the practical applications of chemistry in everyday life.