The STEM/STEAM Podcast by Kelly

The STEM/STEAM Podcast by Kelly - August 2018 Scholarship Essay

As an inventor, artist and graduate student who is currently studying Industrial Design, one topic in education that interests me is innovation, and how having a solid Science, Technology, Engineering, (Art) and Math (STE(A)M) curriculum in the school systems is vital for its progress.

The educational podcast that I would create and host would address the intersections of and the interactions amongst the following subjects: inventing, visual art, interaction design, industrial design, innovation, entrepreneurship, science, technology, engineering and math. This podcast would encourage students (from the middle school ages until the pre-graduate school, or post-graduate school late twenties) that having a strong background in Science, Technology, Engineering, (Art) and Math can lead to a very rewarding collegiate path, and an even more rewarding career! In other words, my podcast would exist to take the sting out of graphing parametric equations, solving anti-derivatives, and learning how to add requisite shadows to make an object appear more realistic in a rendering program. After hearing the episodes of my podcast, my hope is that students rush home to solve Stoichiometric equations, wake up early to produce structurally-accurate 3D models, and to strike up the courage to purchase a sketchbook devoted entirely to dreaming of new business and/or product ideas.

In addition to my educational podcast providing practical advice, for example, introducing good study habits, advising on how to draft a business plan or proposal, providing strategies for solving equations and tips for maximizing the yield in science classes that involve a laboratory component, I would be sure to interview successful men and women who either have jobs in the STEM/STEAM sector, or who work in academia in the STEM/STEAM fields. Each interviewee would provide relatable biographical details regarding where he or she grew up, where he or she attended high school and college, and which STEM courses piqued his or her interest. I would conclude each interview-based podcast by asking each interviewee to provide a word of advice for middle school-aged students, for high school-aged students, for college students, and for graduates who are actively on the job search, as I believe that one of the main goals of pursuing a STEM education is to reach back, and to help the next generation accomplish their goals for the benefit of society.

Another format for the episodes of my educational podcast would be entirely devoted to answering questions submitted by podcast listeners. I would source the answers to questions from industry experts, all the while sprinkling in an occasional anecdote from my years both as a student in a heavy STEM-based high school curriculum, and as a fairly recent Ivy League graduate who survived two semesters of organic chemistry!

In conclusion, I believe that the topic of my STEM-based educational podcast will provide just the right mix of both left and right brain stimulation and inspiration that ambitious, intellectually-curious young students crave. Due to our rapidly-changing global and technologically-oriented world, there is an increasing demand for students to be better-acquainted with the STEM field. The purpose of my podcast is to encourage, and to show students that pursuing a STEM-related education is not only personally-rewarding, but can positively impact society, too.