Blog

Why diversity in STEM is important

by Yoliem S. Miranda Alarcón

Steve Jobs once said, “A lot of people in our industry haven’t had very diverse experiences. So they don’t have enough dots to connect, and they end up with very linear solutions without a broad perspective on the problem. The broa...

Stress in Adolescents

by Amanda Nathuji

Stress. The mere word itself can evoke a rapid heartbeat and sweaty palms. After all, as adults, there are a number of stress-inducing situations we encounter every day. The idea of stress is pervasive in our society, in media, in self-help books th...

How do biologists decide what organism to study?

by LeBlanc L

Unlike chemistry or physics, where chemicals and atoms can be manipulated in highly controlled environments, biology must deal with living organisms that come with numerous confounding variables. Scientific rigor in such an environment is impossible...

The importance of a good theory

by Katherine Lippa

There is nothing as practical as a good theory. – Kurt Lewin This blog is inspired by my recent experiences guiding my kindergartener through her first science fair project. My five-year-old has enjoyed reading about electricity and putting toge...

The importance of closing the STEM gender gap

by Amanda Nathuji

Frances Arnold, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering and Biochemistry at the California Institute of Technology, was recently awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work in the use of directed evolution to engineer enzymes. Direct...

The insidious nature of grades

by Ripal Nathuji

August marks the start of a new academic year for most students in Texas. It’s a transition period where they say goodbye to the relaxing days of summer and return to structured schedules of morning commutes and school bells. What is striking ...

Why personalized learning matters

by Amanda Nathuji

We all want what is best for our children, our students, ourselves. We want to be as prepared for the future as possible. However, with the overabundance of information available to us today, how do we decide which learning methodology is best? More...

The Rhind Papyrus – Then and Now

by Katherine Lippa

We tend to think of STEM as the very essence of modernity. The technology that STEM makes possible has created modern life and is shaping the future. But fundamentally many aspects of STEM, how it defines our understanding of the world and relates t...

The Fallacy of STEM vs Liberal Arts

by Yuan Qu

Without meaning and direction, how do we decide where to go next to affect the changes we want in life? Here at STEMed Labs, we often speak about a “chasm” which exists between the prototypical educational journey found in the classroom ...

May the force (of sci-fi inspiration) be with you

by Ripal Nathuji

As we approach the end of April and transition into May, there are various seasonal events we look forward to each year. For many students, May signifies the end of the academic year which includes graduation ceremonies for seniors and the start of ...

Nurturing growth mindsets in STEM education

by Ripal Nathuji

It’s commonly accepted that the assumptions we make about the world around us directly impact the way we approach our daily lives. In this way, an individual’s mindset affects how they perceive their place within society as well as their...

Education as a journey versus a destination

by Ripal Nathuji

We often hear the refrain that education should be a discovery driven journey whereby students let their natural curiosity lead them on a natural path of inquiry and learning. The visual associated with this metaphor typically includes a natural sun...