Why students should study STEM

摘要

Students who do not intend to have a science-related career often ask why they should study STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects. This is strongly linked to the decline in the numbers of students studying the science-based subjects (see March 2012 issue, p. 40). In the 20years between 1992 and 2012, the number of Australian year 12 students increased by 30 800, but the numbers of year 12 chemistry, physics and biology students declined by 4000, 8000 and 12 000 respectively.