Amid a struggling economy, a raft of foreign-policy headaches, and the tail end of a heated campaign season, President Barack Obama carved out time in his schedule this month to watch students in the State Dining Room demonstrate a solar-powered model car, a water-purification system, and a soccer-playing robot.
That might seem like a surprising distraction. But to hear the president tell it, those activities鈥攑art of what was dubbed the first annual celebrating winners of STEM-focused student competitions鈥攁re just what the nation needs to prosper.
鈥淚n many ways, our future depends on what happens in those contests,鈥� Mr. Obama . 鈥淚t鈥檚 in these pursuits that talents are discovered and passions are lit, and the future scientists, engineers, inventors, entrepreneurs are born.鈥�
The science fair was the fifth White House event he has personally hosted over the past year or so focused on education in the STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Given the myriad issues competing for his attention, it鈥檚 striking how much Mr. Obama talks about the topic, observers say.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 been a president as vocal about these areas, maybe even back to Sputnik times,鈥� said Francis Q. Eberle, the executive director of the Arlington, Va.-based National Science Teachers Association, referring to the era of heightened U.S. concern about science and related fields following the Soviet Union鈥檚 launch of a satellite into orbit in 1957. 鈥淗e continues to revisit this, which is really terrific.鈥�
When President Obama discusses the issue, he emphasizes the need to inspire more young people to engage in the STEM fields. He also highlights the role of STEM education in helping to drive innovation and scientific discovery, and to maintain the nation鈥檚 economic competitiveness.
By most accounts, the president鈥檚 interest is genuine. Nonetheless, some observers say the White House may well perceive a political benefit, as the issue lends itself especially well to highlighting Mr. Obama鈥檚 concern for jobs and the economy and his ability to work with business leaders, who in some industries see STEM education as vital to their bottom lines.
鈥淚 do believe that he and his administration feel very strongly about the issue,鈥� said Vic Klatt, an education lobbyist and a former aide to Republicans on the House education committee. 鈥淚 also think that they see an advantage in emphasizing this issue. It gives them a chance to work closely with the business community, who they are fighting tooth and nail with on virtually every other front.鈥�
鈥楨ducate to Innovate鈥�
Early in his term, Mr. Obama signaled that scientific research and development鈥攁s well as STEM education鈥攚ould be a high priority. In an to the National Academy of Sciences, he vowed to ramp up federal aid for R&D and bring a 鈥渞enewed commitment鈥� to math and science education.
鈥淭his is something I care deeply about,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hrough this commitment, American students will move ... from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math over the next decade.鈥�
As part of the effort, he promised to participate in a 鈥減ublic-awareness and -outreach program to encourage students to consider careers in science and mathematics and engineering.鈥�
A series of events has ensued, starting with an astronomy night Mr. Obama hosted with students in October of last year on the White House lawn. The next month, he announced a White House initiative called , a public-private campaign to boost the participation and performance of students in the STEM fields. At that event and others, he鈥檚 announced commitments and initiatives by companies, foundations, and government entities to advance STEM education.
Its advocates give the president high marks for bringing the issue visibility, but offer a mixed review on whether he鈥檚 matched the rhetoric with sufficient commitments in federal policy and spending.
The White House has proposed some significant increases in K-12 funding for STEM activities at the U.S. Department of Education, though analysts say it remains to be seen whether the aid will materialize and how hard the White House will fight for it.
For instance, as part of his fiscal 2011 budget request, the president proposed creating three new 鈥渢eaching and learning鈥� funds, one focused on STEM. The $300 million price tag would increase aid for those subjects at the department by more than $100 million, but that plan was pegged to changes in the stalled attempt to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Some advocates lament that the president has requested little, if any, increase for STEM education at the National Science Foundation in his fiscal 2011 plan. The federal stimulus package he championed last year, however, contained at least $100 million in onetime aid for math and science teacher-training and -recruitment programs at the NSF.
Another concern, STEM supporters say, is that the to overhaul the ESEA doesn鈥檛 call for adding student achievement in science to the law鈥檚 accountability framework, an idea backed by many STEM proponents.
鈥淗e certainly is talking about the importance of this,鈥� said the NSTA鈥檚 Mr. Eberle. 鈥淏ut when the president says STEM, we don鈥檛 necessarily see that being wrapped into other policies or at least the [ESEA] blueprint.鈥�
Sparking Excitement
Leaving aside debates about federal policy and funding, the way President Obama talks about STEM education is getting plaudits.
At the White House science fair, middle and high school students who had won STEM competitions were front and center.
鈥淗e鈥檚 shaking these kids鈥� hands and congratulating them,鈥� said James Brown, an assistant director of the American Chemical Society and the co-chairman of the Washington-based STEM Education Coalition. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing better than the president being a role model for students to study science and technology.鈥�
鈥淭he emphasis on trying to raise awareness, particularly about these majors and careers, and to get children excited ... is the right approach,鈥� said Christopher Roe, the deputy director of the Business-Higher Education Forum, a nonprofit group in Washington.
鈥淗e鈥檚 communicating to students and parents directly, which I think is really important,鈥� Mr. Roe added. 鈥淜ids want to be excited; they want to see the awe of science and technology.鈥�
When Mr. Obama has spoken about actions to be taken on STEM education at the White House events, he has tended to place less emphasis on federal policy and spending levers than on private ventures.
鈥淭he success we seek is not going to be attained by government alone,鈥� he said at an event last year. 鈥淚t depends on the dedication of students and parents and the commitment of private citizens, organizations, and companies.鈥�
In September, for instance, Mr. Obama announced the launch of , a coalition of more than 100 companies aiming to improve and expand corporate efforts in STEM education.
Some STEM advocates say the White House is helping ramp up the private sector鈥檚 engagement.
That said, Linda Rosen, the chief executive officer of Change the Equation, cautioned that while the White House role is welcome, it鈥檚 by no means the main spark for the business sector.
鈥淭he corporate interest was already there, by and large,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think that it is perhaps heightened in some cases鈥� by the White House attention.
Joel Packer, an education principal at the Raben Group, a Washington lobbying firm, said he鈥檚 not surprised Mr. Obama focuses mainly on private-sector investments at the events.
鈥淚t gives the president an opportunity to talk about something instead of just saying, 鈥楥ongress is not doing what we asked,鈥� 鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to worry about getting Congress to agree.鈥�
