Some of us might not be familiar with the abbreviation STEM. It used to be more in use some time back, but now we hear less of this term.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is an umbrella term that groups together distinct but related technical disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
It is often used in an education context. But is also related to jobs, professions, workforce development, social development and how efficiently our societies could work in the world of tomorrow.
There is sometimes debate about which disciplines are included in STEM. Can it include the social sciences (psychology, sociology, economics, and political science)? We might be, subconsciously, following the UK approach, which groups the social sciences with the humanities and the arts.
There are other acronyms too, like HASS (Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences), sometimes called SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy). HEAL stands for (health, education, administration, and literacy), and is sometimes seen as the counterpart of STEM.
But let's leave aside those intricacies.
A few months ago, an expat Goan (Glynis, in the UAE) came up with the idea of forming a STEM education network. Setting up a WhatsApp network can be easy. But keeping it active and on-track can be more of a challenge. Specially since some just don't appreciate the concept of 'off topic' and what it implies.
Anyway, that group got off to a good start.
In a few weeks it picked up over 300 members. Of course, there are already existing tech networks, from which those interested in STEM could be 'recruited'.
Plus, the fact that Goa lacks groups of this kind probably makes the handful that exist seem even more useful.
It's interesting to see what a disparate group of people can bring to the table from their diverse backgrounds.
Some discuss things like STEM initiatives in diverse parts of the world. Or whether peer review works, and what could be its blind spots.
Recently, a few debated late into the night as to what might be the best way of promoting science clubs among young students.
Our governments have been either slow, lackadaisical or inefficient in promoting such ventures. Some grandiose schemes exist, and funding is available too.
But these either go to well connected schools and institutions, or produce rather poor results after all the money is spent.
In such a context, it would be essential that interested citizens and educators take up the initiative on their own. In our times, when sharing information and ideas can be done very easily and inexpensively, this might not be such an impossible task after all.
There are some models which exist.
Over the past two decades, a small number of small groups sprung up on their own, with the intention of promoting Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). This led to networks being forms and skills being built.
Over the years, some of the young students (even children) of those times, have grown into skilled techies and even entrepreneurs. This only shows what is possible.
Small, baby-steps can indeed go a long way. Our youth need proper role models. They need to be implanted with the idea that some of them could do well in the STEM fields. Above all, they need to read STEM-related work at the right age, so that they develop a liking for this.
Take a magazine like 'Science Reporter'. It is published by the CSIR, Centre for Scientific Industrial and Research. Till recently (2021), it was priced at hardly Rs 30 per issue. Now it costs Rs 75. But here's the catch: magazines such as this are not easily available on the newsstands. You would need to take on a subscription to it, and get it regularly.
In the past, a struggling India of the 1970s and 1980s, oddly enough, had many more science-based magazines, that were much more accessible.
Only recently, I came across a July 1970 issue of the magazine 'Science Today' (it had a subtitle "for everyman" written in fine print below its masthead).
That issue was discussing topics like "test-tube babies -- a glorified myth?". We are told: "The term 'test-tube baby' is a misnomer. It really is only the fertilization of an egg in a test-tube. But it holds the promise of useful developments in the field of reproduction."
As a side note, one might add that the famed gynaecologist of Goan origin, Dr VN Shirodkar, wrote a companion piece on 'the problem of infertility' in this very issue.
There were also other articles on lightning, moon illusions, the harmless snakes of India (by Romulus Whitaker), how good are you as a minerologist, brain teasers, and the like.
That magazine produced was very colourful, and made science reading easy for the masses. It was published by the Times of India group, and priced at Rs 1.25 per single copy and Rs 12.50 for an annual subscription. Unfortunately, the magazine has since closed down.
A few small steps could go a long way....
