STEM education is more important than ever. In our ever-changing, technology-driven world, students must be equipped with the knowledge and skills afforded by STEM learning—problem solving, critical thinking, curiosity, and persistence, among many others. STEM expertise is also desperately needed to address the many challenges facing our world, particularly those identified by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Yet in many places throughout the world—in developed and developing countries alike—students lack access to meaningful STEM learning.

On February 23, 2021, The New York Academy of Sciences hosted a discussion between Chief Learning Officer Hank Nourse and Mmantsetsa Marope, Executive Director of the World Heritage Group. They explored the impacts of STEM education on individual, national, and global development.

In this eBriefing, you will learn:

• What high-quality STEM education looks like
• How STEM learning benefits individuals
• The importance of STEM education to national and global development
• How we might ensure equitable access to STEM learning, particularly in the face of growing inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic

Advancing STEM Education for All

Speakers

Mmantsetsa Marope, PhD
World Heritage Group

Mmantsetsa Marope is widely regarded as a thought leader on education, the future of education and work, and learning systems capable of preparing students for rapidly changing and unpredictable futures. She is Executive Director of the World Heritage Group, an organization dedicated to building resilient, agile, and future-forward education systems. She is Honorary President of the Indian Ocean Comparative and International Education Societies and Lead Global Advisor for China’s Education and Innovation for Development EXPO.

Prior to founding the World Heritage Group, Dr. Marope spent four decades in the civil service and the nonprofit sectors, including senior roles at the World Bank and, most recently, UNESCO, where she served as Director of the International Bureau of Education. Dr. Marope holds a PhD in education from the University of Chicago, an MEd from Penn State University, and BA and CDE degrees from the University of Botswana and Swaziland.

Hank Nourse
The New York Academy of Sciences

Hank Nourse leads the Academy’s Global STEM Alliance (GSA), a bold initiative to advance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education worldwide. With hundreds of partners, and reaching participants in over 100 countries, the GSA directly engages tens of thousands of students and teachers annually, providing mentorship, skill building, and professional development spanning K-12 and higher education.

Prior to joining the Academy in 2015, Hank spent more than 15 years developing online learning and assessment programs for the K–12 market, primarily at Scholastic, a global children’s publishing and media company. He holds a Master’s degree in International Educational Development from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University.