Fischer’s “Building Blocks of STEM Act” introduces STEM education at an early age

There’s a new effort in Congress to encourage young people to go into science, technology, engineering and math careers.

These STEM areas are struggling to gain traction with young children, especially young female students. 

It’s a problem Senator Deb Fischer wants to fix.

“It is extremely important that we continue to encourage young people to have experiences where it will lead them really to be interested in science and interested in computers and math and engineering,” Sen. Fischer said.

Sen. Fischer helped introduce the Building Blocks of STEM Act, a bill that would award grants for STEM education in grades Pre-K through elementary, with an emphasis on supporting younger female students who take interest in these fields.

That effort to help young women is something Girls Code Lincoln focuses on.

“Right now we’re just trying to teach as many girls as we can and show them that STEM and specifically technology is a place for them,” Nicci Peterson with Girls Code Lincoln said.

Girls Code Lincoln is a non-profit that gives young women a space to learn and develop technology skills, and encourages them to pursue it into adulthood.

“If they aren’t engaged and they’re not learning, there aren’t a lot of opportunities, because there aren’t very many girls their age that know where to go,” Peterson said.

Bright Lights in Lincoln has the same idea to engage student’s interests, with their programs catered more to the general elementary and middle school grade levels.

Their summer camps offer hands-on STEM or STEAM (the “A” standing for art) activities, which keep kids engaged when school isn’t in session.

“It’s also giving them that opportunity to see that you can apply math and science to a lot of different things, even if on the surface it doesn’t seem like that would have any application,” said Renee Ford, education coordinator for Bright Lights.

Sen. Fischer is hopeful this bill will make a big impact on these programs and, in turn, the future of STEM careers, as kids are given an opportunity to explore what they are passionate about.

“It will help to stimulate their curiosity to encourage them to expand their interest in these fields, and then hopefully it’s going to carry through,” Sen. Fischer said.

The bill has already passed through the Senate Commerce committee.  It will now head to the Senate floor for a vote, then to the House, and eventually to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

Bright Lights still has openings for their summer learning camps, you can find more information by clicking here. 

Girls Code Lincoln would like to let the public know they are participating in Give to Lincoln Day for the first time this year. Give to Lincoln Day begins Thursday, May 30, and you can find more information about how to donate by clicking here.