Kolkata: Experts talk about importance, scope of STEM education during US Consulate-BCC&I hosted panel discussion 

Daniel B. Schwab, president and founder, STEM for Development, said during his virtual address that the world is currently facing some major 'existential crises' which include issues like climate change, water scarcity and food security.

"We need the global south and north to work closely together to address these issues," he said.

"We need well-trained scientific talent. And more than that, we need someone that knows how to communicate, that knows how to tell the story of their research both to other scientists and the public," he said.

Apart from him, Professor Rangina Hamidi, Professor of Practice, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University and Dr Kanadpriya Basu, Professor of Practice, Data Science & Leadership Develoment, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University were the other Speakers.  

Basu spoke about 100 Million Learner’s Initiative — a move to provide 100 million entrepreneurs in India 100 Million Learners Course free of cost.

The Panel Discussion was moderated by Dr Suranjan Das, Vice Chancellor, Adamas University.

US Consul General Melinda Pavek highlighted the importance of STEM education in her closing remark and said: "It is not about quantity, it is about quality."

"We get to quality by changing the process that we use to teach, by engaging students in their hearts, in their minds, in their excitement," she said.

"I think we really need to do that differently," she said.