AEDC’s STEM spokesperson speaks about national educational challenges and how to tackle them

  • Published
  • By Philip Lorenz III
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  U.S. education statistics for 2012 paint a discouraging, if not an almost grim picture, according to Jere Matty, AEDC's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) educational outreach specialist.

"The Department of Defense has an ever-increasing need for employees in scientific, technology, engineering and math-related career fields," he said. "But one fifth of U.S. fourth graders lack the competence to perform even basic mathematical computations."

Matty said much of the problem can be traced to a lack of interest in STEM fields where even the most proficient students are gravitating away from STEM-related professions.

"Department of Education statistics for 2012 reveal that less than one percent of current U.S. elementary school students will seek an advanced education in the sciences," he said. "Now, I'm reading this verbatim, 'Of 15 year olds in 27 countries, U.S. youth ranked 18th in math and 14th in science. Half of U.S. graduates in STEM career fields are foreign nationals who can't get required security clearances.'"

Matty said the bottom line couldn't be more obvious.

"We desperately need U.S. students to get excited about careers in science, technology, engineering, math and aviation so they'll become the future Air Force STEM professionals who are required for us to dominate air, space and cyberspace."

For Matty, a former Air Force pilot and retired engineer, he knows the solution is far removed from mastering a pre-flight checklist or learning to tackle the latest modeling and simulation testing software.

"It's boiling the STEM basics down to a level any young person can grasp, by showing them the physics of airflow over a model car in our wind tunnel that actually takes force data while they run the test," he said. "Or we can take young people into our portable discovery dome, an inflatable planetarium where we can project large, colorful images of galaxies, and 3-D animation of men on the surface of the Moon, as they explore new terrain."

Matty says a rocket constructed of a straw, paper and clay may not sound exciting, until you see the expression of a child's face when he or she learns the basics of propulsion physics.

"I'm just getting started in my new role, my second career with AEDC," Matty said. "My goal is to help engineers, especially the younger ones, learn how to connect with young people with the help of these relatively simple teaching aids that are both educational and fun."

Matty emphasized that the STEM program at AEDC has always been a team effort.

"My predecessor, Mr. Wayne Goff, did a great job of getting this program off the ground and purchased most of the excellent STEM equipment we have now," he said. "Mr. Britt Covington, AEDC's executive director, and AEDC Commander Col. Brewer have been huge supporters and given the green light for Air Force volunteers to assist on a non-interference basis with their regular duties. Likewise, Mr. Steve Pearson, ATA's general manager, is very enthusiastic about encouraging STEM and has provided critical ATA support to ensure the success of this."

Matty added, "So we already have a lot of folks at AEDC who have an interest and are involved in encouraging young folks in the STEM fields. A big part of my job is to help facilitate and coordinate efforts already ongoing. If we can light that intellectual fire within these young students, especially in kindergarten and early grade school, we will be a lot further along in restoring and ensuring our country's preeminence in the STEM fields. It is just those capabilities that have made our country unequaled for generations in science, technology, engineering and math."