Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has recently been touring New York state, outlining her education plan to provide more opportunities to students across the region in the science, technology, engineering and math or STEM fields.
"The bill will help create grant programs for elementary, middle and high schools," said Gillibrand. "Schools are encouraged to partner with their local colleges and non-for-profit businesses to bolster innovated STEM related curriculum and mentorship programs designed to develop the stills that folks need."
Gillibrand's three-pronged proposal includes strengthening engineering programs, creating additional opportunities for education in computer science as well as exposing more girls and minorities to the STEM fields. She says she'll lobby at the federal level for more opportunities.
"Typically, in STEM fields, science, technology, engineering and math, it's typically white men. Very few women, very few minorities, very few from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. So we want to change that," said Gillibrand. "The point is all of our best and brightest should have opportunities to excel in the fastest growing industries."
STEM fields are one of the fast growing industries in the state. And Gillibrand adds some of the most highest paying jobs are in the Finger Lakes region.
In a recent visit to the Rochester STEM High School at the Edison Tech building, Gillibrand observed science experiments like dissecting pigs, robotics and soda explosions.