It may come as a surprise that this opening statement was made by First Lady Michelle Obama (September 26, 2011) on the status of women in STEM1 in the U.S. It is a clear indication that the issue of STEM education, research and employment continues to be a major concern in many countries across the globe including those considered leaders in innovation2. It is also apparent to many governments and non-government organizations (NGOs) that jobs in STEM reduce the income gap in general and the gender pay divide in particular, and increase a nation’s economic growth3. These facts point to the need to reconsider the current trends in how STEM is perceived, practiced, and projected.
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