What is STEM?

Originally called Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology (SMET), STEM was an initiative created by the National Science Foundation. The initiative was created to create programs that would make students more marketable in the workplace. The goal was to increase critical thinking skills and creative problem solving skills of students who participated in the program.  It was believed that students who had the opportunity to participate in STEM programs would be at an advantage when pursuing post-secondary goals, particularly if the goal was to continue their education in a STEM related field.

With growing popularity, the term “STEM” has been integrated into our educational system as a predominant title for any activity that fits into any of the four disciplines: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and merges each into a solidified learning experience.  

During the early phases of conceptualization, the founders of B: STEM ACADEMY recognized immediately that there were strong disconnects that existed between the academic and professional skills of new hires in STEM related fields. After investigation, it was found that these disconnects  were largely due to the fact that even though “STEM” education had become a common term utilized in educational and business communities, it was still unclear as to what constituted “STEM” programs  and initiatives and even more so what STEM looked like in terms of student engagement, learning outcomes, and business success.   

B:STEM founders noticed that the need to work collaboratively with educators was a central element in the creation of a revolutionary STEM curriculum that would enable students to successfully attain the necessary disciplinary STEM skillset as well as develop skillsets that would build business and professional acumen in order for them to be both competitive and effective in STEM related professions. Setting out to pioneer such a curriculum, a team of qualified STEM educators, professionals, and business leaders joined forces and B:STEM ACADEMY was formed. 

The B:STEM Difference

Though there are various approaches to a STEM education, and as such STEM programming, B:STEM ACADEMY  has designed a unique curriculum that focuses on business intensive and sensitive programs for those working in or aspiring to work in  scarcely populated and integrated STEM business and corporate environments.



At B:STEM, we realize that it is T.I.M.E. to change the landscape of STEM programming by effectively integrating the business skills needed to attain and maintain success in STEM related industries.