-
Period: to
STEM Education Historical Timeline
15 significant STEM and STEM education events that have led us to where we are today -
Sputnik was launched
The launch of the Sputnik satellite caused the United States Congress to look at the amount of funds being spent on science which included an immediate doubling of the National Science Foundation's budget. -
The National Defense Education Act
The National Defense Education Act (NDEA) was passed in 1958 in response to Soviet acceleration of the space race with the launch of the satellite Sputnik. The law provided federal funding to “insure trained manpower of sufficient quality and quantity to meet the national defense needs of the United States.”
https://history.house.gov/HouseRecord/Detail/15032436195 -
President Kennedy's Challenge to go to the Moon
On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced before a special joint session of Congress the dramatic and ambitious goal of sending an American safely to the Moon before the end of the decade. -
Apollo 11
Apollo 11 (July 16–24, 1969) was the spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon. -
HBCU's and National Science Foundation
Director William McElroy announces NSF's commitment to improving the quality of science education and strengthening the research capability at historically Black colleges and universities. -
Space Shuttle Enterprise
The first orbiter of the Space Shuttle system. Rolled out on September 17, 1976, it was built for NASA as part of the Space Shuttle program to perform atmospheric test flights after being launched from a modified Boeing 747. -
First Female Spacewalk
Savitskaya made history on July 25, 1984, as the first woman to participate in a spacewalk during her second flight to Salyut 7. -
The Doppler Radar
The radar used by the National Weather Service is called the WSR-88D, which stands for Weather Surveillance Radar - 1988 Doppler.
The most effective tool to detect precipitation is radar. Radar, which stands for RAdio Detection And Ranging, has been utilized to detect precipitation, and especially thunderstorms, since the 1940's. Radar enhancements have enabled NWS forecasters to examine storms with more precision. -
Goals 2000: Educate America Act 1994
Goals 2000 was signed into law in March 1994 to provide funding to states over a five-year period to support state-level improvement initiatives and award subgrants to local school districts to develop and implement education improvement plans that focus on improving achievement for all students. -
NSF/DARPA/NASA Digital Libraries Initiative
The Digital Libraries Initiative (DLI) was the result of a community-based process which began in the late 1980s with informal discussions between researchers and agency program managers. Digital libraries as global, multilingual repositories of data, knowledge, sound, and images invite people everywhere to become users and learners. Digital libraries are inherently international. -
Publication of Rising Above the Gathering Storm
The release of the report by a pre-eminent committee makes four recommendations along with 20 implementation actions that federal policy-makers should take to create high-quality jobs and focus new science and technology efforts on meeting the nation's needs, especially in the area of clean, and affordable energy. -
Educate to Innovate Campaign
President Barack Obama’s Educate to Innovate campaign is touted as a collaborative effort between the federal government, the private sector, and the non-profit and research communities to raise the standing of American students in science and math through commitments of time, money, and volunteering. The program strives to increase STEM literacy, enhance teaching quality, and expand educational and career opportunities for America’s youth. -
Girls Who Code NonProfit Established
Girls Who Code is a nonprofit organization which aims to support and increase the number of women in computer science by equipping young women with the necessary computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities -
Smithsonian Science Education Center and Howard University Join Forces To Increase Diversity in STEM Teaching
To tackle the issue of underrepresentation of people of color in STEM education and leadership, the Smithsonian Science Education Center in collaboration with Howard University hosted a teacher leadership summit funded by Shell Oil Co. and powered by Teach to Lead. At the summit, teams of educators will created a plan for attracting, retaining and developing a diverse STEM teaching workforce in their districts to become catalysts for systemic change. -
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona published six proposed priorities in the Federal Register.
The U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona published six proposed priorities in the Federal Register. STEM, computer science education, and out of school time settings are in Proposed Priority 2--Promoting Equity in Student Access to Educational Resources, Opportunities, and Welcoming Environments. For more information visit:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-14003
