Explore STEM Careers with the Academy

With our national and global economy increasingly powered by STEM, it’s crucial to offer opportunities to explore the careers available in these fields.

Published November 27, 2024

By Zamara Choudhary
Program Manager, Education

A recent study, titled STEM and the American Workforce, found that two thirds of people in the United States are employed in STEM-related occupations. The analysis took an inclusive view of STEM, accounting for all occupations that contribute to STEM-related work regardless of educational attainment. Altogether, this group accounts for a staggering 69% of the U.S. GDP and contributes $2.3 million in annual federal tax revenue.

STEM powers our economy, and the number of these jobs are growing at a rate that cannot be filled by the workforce. Global society is reliant on quickly developing technologies, and there is consistent demand for innovation and collaboration across continents. As a result, the U.S. must “develop adequate talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields to ensure economic strength, security, global competitiveness, and environmental health,” according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

To support this goal, this fall, The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) launched a year-long virtual series called Chat with Experts: Career Explorer, which explores the variety of careers an individual can pursue with a STEM degree or background. Each month on a select Thursday, a STEM professional gives a presentation about their background, career path, and current work, followed by questions from the audience. Featured speakers work at organizations including Pfizer, the City College of New York, the New York Hall of Science, the Broad Institute at Harvard and MIT, Noven Pharmaceuticals, the Space Telescope Science Institute, and more.

There are so many paths to STEM. Join the Academy and explore some of the possibilities pursuing a career in STEM can offer. Learn more about and register for Chat with Experts: Career Explorer.