Lines Are Blurring Between Science Disciplines
International Science and Engineering Fair Embraces All Sciences
by Maya Ajmera, President & CEO of Society for Science & the Public and Publisher of Science News
You may have read the news recently in The New York Times (or elsewhere) that our organization is seeking a new title sponsor for the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest and most prestigious international high school Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) competition.
I could not agree more with Steve Lohr, the author of the article, who wrote that “it is hard to imagine a time since the post-Sputnik years when science and technology education has been more valued, by universities and in the labor market.”
Science — in all its forms — is critical to the future of both our country and our country’s economy, and to the global community and global economy. And what a time to be a young scientist or engineer! Students today are reaching amazing heights in their cutting-edge research.
The students who participate in science fairs and ISEF conduct research on some of the hottest topics, from climate change to petroleum engineering to biotech. Their research reflects the fact that the pace of scientific research is moving at a break-neck speed, and that the lines are blurring between scientific disciplines.
Today’s innovators and problem solvers understand that any solution to the world’s intractable problems must be interdisciplinary in nature. Biomedical science often relies on big data, while energy research often incorporates both engineering and chemistry.
We have long understood science and engineering to be multifaceted, which is why students can enter their ISEF projects in 22 different categories. It would be short-sighted to rank any of these disciplines as more, or less, important than another. ISEF is intentionally inclusive of all disciplines; to be otherwise could negatively influence young people’s passion and aspirations — turning them away from something that truly interests them.
Craig Barrett, former chairman and CEO of Intel and current Society Trustee, said it best, that “all of science has become data-driven and computational” and that we all have “a stake in nurturing youthful innovators in all scientific disciplines, including the life sciences.” Craig was well-known for the time he would spend each year with student competitors at ISEF, asking them about their research and what problem they were tackling, and why.
I am certain that our next sponsor will have a deep appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of science, technology, engineering and math, as well as an understanding of the incredible reach of our affiliated science fairs held across the globe, which inspire and impact young people like no other program can, igniting their passion for STEM and their desire to discover innovative solutions to some of our world’s most intractable problems.
The demand for young people competing in science fairs has never been greater. Each year brings more countries and regions throughout the world choosing to engage with ISEF for the first time. Most recently ISEF’s reach extended to Ghana, Armenia and Zimbabwe — and even to Idaho, the last of our own 50 states to join, with four affiliated science fairs just this year.
As a science fair junkie myself, I know firsthand the power of science fairs. It gave me powerful life skills that have shaped who I am. Like our ISEF alumni, I am a risk taker. I don’t fear failure, I embrace it as a step on the path to innovation, due in large part to the science projects I worked on when I was younger.
ISEF alumni have gone on to win the Nobel Prize, MacArthur Fellowships and the Breakthrough Prize and most recently seven of our ISEF alumni were included in Forbes 30 under 30 list. More and more of the most respected people in the world are those that have come from a scientific or engineering background and are using their abilities and passion to change the world.
Our next sponsor will have an unparalleled opportunity to not only inspire, but to positively and meaningfully impact future generations of scientific leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs. The competition (and its global affiliates) reach and inspire youngsters around the world — now in 78 countries, regions and territories and counting — like no other program can, across each scientific discipline.
I am confident that our next sponsor will find that to be the case and will reap the benefits of investing in this unique and wonderful pipeline of talent. I, and our entire team, look forward to extending the rich heritage and tradition of the International Science and Engineering Fair in the years to come.
