Architects of STEM Ecosystems

Architects of STEM Ecosystems create unique blueprints that allow educators to explore new strategies and engage all stakeholders in Earth Science. Imperative to these blueprints are STEM collaborations with university/business/industry sectors.  These strategies embed research education models, best engineering practices, workforce development, and culturally responsive externships. An exemplary STEM program called STEM Research and Design utilizes these foundational strategies. The program provides students with opportunities to explore geologic research methods by analyzing data from the Great Lakes region in the United States. Teacher-student cohorts have worked closely with local universities and businesses to interpret Lake Michigan seafloor mapping data from NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory/Teaching Great Lakes Science. As a result, students developed a relationship between geologic profiles of the seabed, sinkhole data, the amount of chemosynthesis, and the dramatic effects of climate change on Great Lake water levels, impacting a broad range of ecosystems. Moreover, the architectural plan has started to address innovative water clean-up techniques of our Great Lakes in hopes of establishing workforce development for the region’s “blue” economy.