The United States has developed as a global leader, in large part, through the genius and hard work of its scientists, engineers, and innovators.  In a world that’s becoming increasingly complex, where success is driven not only by  what you know, but by what you can do with what you know, it’s more important than ever for our youth to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and make sense of information. These are the types of skills that students learn by studying science, technology, engineering, and math—subjects collectively known as STEM.

from http://www.ed.gov/stem