The Importance of DEI In STEM Education

Photo by Norma Mortenson

Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) encourages innovation by harnessing varying backgrounds, point of views, and experiences. In a recent report by National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), women, as well as Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Alaska Native people are receiving more degrees and are in science and technology professions more than in past years. 

But despite the change in numbers — those groups including people with disabilities — still remain underrepresented in STEM. Systemic racism, gender discrimination, and other conscious and unconscious biases woven into the U.S. educational system are some of the impediments that underrepresented groups face.

STEAM Ahead and organizations alike are working to combat these challenges in order to increase the overall number of underrepresented students in STEM.

Women in STEM

Source: Ipsos

A 2021 study showed that 1 in 3 girls changed their mind about pursuing a STEM career at the age of 15. Girls opt to pursue a non-STEM career pathway before they even graduate high school because of two reasons: lack of interest in STEM and finding STEM subjects too difficult.

The study also supports the idea of the gender confidence gap, wherein female students expressed concern about the following:

  • Not being qualified for the job

  • STEM careers being too competitive/stressful

  • Might not have the right industry connections in STEM fields

Mentorship and networking are crucial to keeping female students interested in STEM fields. Exposing girls to women role models in the STEM industries can help them see the possibilities of a gender-balanced environment. 

Blacks and Hispanics in STEM

According to Pew Research, Black and Hispanic adults are underrepresented among STEM college graduates when compared to their population proportion. Black students earned 7% of STEM bachelor’s degrees, while Hispanic graduates had a 12% share, which still remains lower than that for all college graduates (15%). 

Source: Pew Research

Although Blacks and Hispanics enroll in STEM college programs at the same rate as other students, they are less likely to complete a STEM degree because of the following:

  • Lack of racially and ethnically diverse mentors

  • Limited prior access to advanced science courses

  • Socioeconomic factors that may disproportionately impact these communities 

Like women, having mentors and more examples of high-achieving minorities in the field would encourage more students to pursue a STEM education and career.

Students with Disabilities in STEM

Students with disabilities (SWD) often lack an understanding of the content and resources needed to enter the STEM industry as early as high school and pre-college, causing few to pursue STEM majors in college and STEM professions. Due to this, other people’s interactions with PWD in STEM are also lacking in terms of social understanding and acceptance.

Source: Purdue University

When SWDs begin college, the environments they encounter may not be welcoming. In interviews with Purdue University’s SWDs, teaching faculty who did not understand their disabilities were more likely to make assumptions about their condition, leading to the teaching faculty being less willing to accommodate the way they requested.

Aside from the academic environment, SWDs also feel discouraged from entering STEM fields because of their own limitations. Students who have set attitudes about their ability are more prone to avoid challenges by feeling helpless, refusing assistance, and disengaging. 

With the right support and encouraging environment, one’s motivation and goals can be set leading to self-efficacy.

Why DEI Matters in STEM

STEM education has the potential to open up a world of opportunities for many people, but it is important to ensure that everyone has access to these opportunities. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are key components of achieving this.

Promoting DEI in STEM education helps address cultural issues by creating an environment where all students can reach their full potential, regardless of their background or identity. It also encourages women, underserved students, and SWDs to pursue a career in STEM, helping close the critical gaps in representation in those fields.

Furthermore, it is beneficial not only for the students but also for the industry as a whole. By having a diverse workforce with different perspectives and backgrounds, we can create innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems.

STEAM Ahead