andscape architecture is inherently a Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) discipline. The principles of STEM
constitute the foundation of the landscape architecture profession.
Through stewardship of the natural and built environments, landscape
architects routinely apply their STEM education and training to plan and
design vital infrastructure projects, rights-of-way, campuses and other
significant private and public site developments—all places where
millions of people live, work, and play.
In 2018, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) joined the STEM Education Coalition, a member coalition of more than 800 education, business, and professional organizations.
The
STEM Education Coalition’s mission is to raise awareness amongst
policymakers at every level about the critical role that science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education plays in
enabling the U.S. to remain the economic and technological leader of the
global marketplace of the 21st century.
On Friday, December 4,
Coalition members aligned their respective interests to advance a series
of goals to the Biden-Harris administration that address key components
of the Build Back Better strategy, including:
- Addressing
the "enormous gaps in educational attainment and equity that have become
visible and been exacerbated by our response to COVID and its impacts
on the education system, especially for our youngest and most at-risk
students."
- "Reopening our schools safely must be a priority to
get the country back on its feet and headed towards a future where every
child will have a chance to learn the skills they need to succeed in
the modern world – which are overwhelmingly in the STEM fields."
- Excellence
in STEM should be "embraced as a bedrock element in conquering the
challenges of today and tomorrow, including improving health, competing
for the best jobs of the future, modernizing our infrastructure,
protecting our environment, and fostering equity for those who have been
underserved by our systems."
Read the full set of recommendations.