
Dr. Mayim Bialik Photo by: Denise Herrick Borchert
Commentary: Mayim Bialik, actress on “The Big Bang Theory”
September 10, 2014 10:40 PM PDT
Part of the difficulty of getting kids into science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is the common misconception that it’s reserved for geeks or only the “smartest “kids in class. What if we could replace those images with real, relatable people, who kids have access to from an early age?
While most people know me as an actress on “The Big Bang Theory,” I also have a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA. I am a science geek and I embrace it! In high school and college, I spent hours upon hours with my graphing calculator in order to gain a deeper understanding of abstract concepts in science and mathematics. Today, many kids spend hours upon hours with their cell phones and tablets, which honestly worries me.
In my role as brand ambassador for Texas Instruments, I have traveled to classrooms around the country encouraging students to pursue studies and future careers in the exciting and fulfilling STEM space. From a young age, students need access to mentors in STEM fields and they need to know the important statistics about STEM.
According to the U.S. bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in STEM occupations is projected to grow nearly twice as fast as the average for all occupations over the next four years.
A 2012 report from President Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology found that about 1 million more STEM professionals will be needed in the next decade. Yet less than 40 percent of students entering college intend to major in these fields.