STEM Careers Two Mega-Trends for Students to Watch in Year 2020 and Beyond - Student Research Foundation

STEM Careers: Two Mega-Trends for Students to Watch in Year 2020 and Beyond

Are you a high school student who is interested in preparing for a career in a STEM field after you start college? Or are you a parent or a teacher of students who are?

If so, it is worth knowing about an article, “Trends for STEM Careers in 2020: Space and Life Sciences” that Anna Powers published in Forbes on December 31, 2019. Ms. Powers, who writes about science for Forbes, highlights two areas that she predicts will see the greatest growth in STEM activity in the coming years.

Space and Aviation Initiatives

Ms. Powers writes that the following trends are making this an area to watch:

  • Increased interest in colonizing space
  • An increase in space tourism and other space investments, spurred by Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezo’s Blue Origin
  • The upcoming launch of NASA’s X-59 supersonic research aircraft
  • Increased research into developing electronic aircraft

Life Sciences and Biotechnology

In addition to medicine, Ms. Powers cites the following areas where life-science and biotech research are likely to increase:

  • The development of laboratory-produced leather that does not come from animal sources
  • Increased interest in creating food by using carbon dioxide, electricity and water

Note that the production of non-plant and non-animal based foods will support space exploration and the possible colonization of Mars.

Another Trend We See that Will Drive Space Exploration

Although Ms. Powers doesn’t mention it, it is worth noting that the United States has recently launched a new branch of the U.S. Military, the Space Force.

As Edward Morris recently wrote in SpaceNews.com, “The Air Force offered me the opportunity to select space-related assignments to start my career as a space professional upon college graduation and completion of military training. In order to motivate the next generation of graduates to serve in the Space Force, recruiting messaging for high school and college students interested in space careers needs to emphasize the opportunity to join, for the first time, a new military service dedicated to space activities. The recruiting strategy should also create an Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Space Force scholarship opportunity like the Navy ROTC Marine Option Scholarship program to raise awareness on college campuses and provide the foundation for the next generation of military space professionals.”

Anna Powers Concludes . . .

It is one of the most exciting times to study science and partake in innovation efforts which will have a direct effect on shaping the future of our planet!”

To Learn More about STEM College Programs and Career Options

Teachers, we invite all your students to explore their career options by participating in our career and college research studies. Students who complete the free career test for high school students will receive information on college and career opportunities matched to their interests.

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