March 30, 2021

AGU Endorses the Rural STEM Education Research Act

Posted by Caitlin Bergstrom

On 25 March 2021, AGU sent a letter of endorsement to leadership of the House Science, Space, and Technology committee for the Rural STEM Education and Research Act.

 

On behalf of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and our community of 130,000 worldwide in the Earth and space sciences, I am writing to thank you for crafting the Rural STEM Education Research Act (H.R. 210) and to offer AGU’s official endorsement for this important bill.

 

High-quality and accessible STEM education is essential to preparing a science-literate 21st century workforce, and AGU shares your commitment to ensuring that the benefits of STEM education is shared across the nation.

 

By encouraging the National Science Foundation to establish a rural STEM education program, the Rural STEM Education Research Act will expand pre-K through 12th grade STEM education within communities that have traditionally been underrepresented in science. In addition, by creating regional cohorts of rural STEM educators, this bill will provide peer support and mentoring opportunities that will equip educators with the best STEM education teaching practices available.  Finally, by encouraging the growth of broadband internet access in rural communities, the bill will make high-quality STEM resources available to learners of all ages.

 

Within the United States, AGU members teach and conduct research across the country in rural and urban educational institutions. As such, AGU members can attest to the fundamental role that diverse perspectives and backgrounds play in making science stronger.

 

Given our strong shared interests on the goals of this legislation, AGU appreciates your leadership and looks forward to working with you on this critical issue in the future.

 

Full text of the letter can be found here.