Student Scientist Series

Relevant to a growing population of urban Americans, the Service and urban National Wildlife Refuges must lend its support, skills, services, resources and expertise to members the surrounding communities to address the needs of the community. The community needs to see the Service as an asset to them. To do this, the urban refuge needs to partner with other organizations to help improve the quality of life in the communities surrounding the refuge. Being involved in community based projects within and beyond refuge boundaries allows the Service to have an influential presence within the community. Developing high-quality skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is increasingly important for student success at all levels of education. These same skills are also crucial for workforce success, as a growing number of jobs will be located in the STEM fields or require at least some STEM skills. In the 21st century, our economy will be driven even more by contributions that come from discoveries and innovations in the STEM fields. President Obama has identified an overarching goal to improve our STEM education compared to other nations, and identified three overarching priorities to ensure more students develop the skills needed to succeed in the STEM fields: improving the quality of math and science teachers so more students have opportunities for high-quality STEM learning and are motivated to pursue STEM degrees and careers; improving undergraduate teaching practices so more well-prepared STEM students persist to a degree in these fields; and expanding STEM education and career opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and minorities.