Computer Science is the future of STEM

The New York Times declared on November 1, 2017: “The national priority in education can be summed up in a four-letter acronym: STEM.” Despite this priority, the article warns that the pathway from STEM college degrees to STEM careers is not as rosy as it is often depicted. Only computer science has more openings than the workforce can fill, creating an urgent need for employees who can work in “data analytics, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and computer security.” By contrast, college graduates in the life sciences, physical sciences, math and even engineering exceed the number of jobs open in these fields, according to the Times.
While the Times cautions that STEM career prospects might be over-exaggerated by some, this article highlights the need for more computer scientists. USC Viterbi School of Engineering has been actively engaged in the community for years to build enthusiasm, confidence, and skills in computational thinking, computer programming, and computer science among students as well as tbeir teachers.
Here are some of the outreach programs USC Viterbi offers to engage students while they are still as young as in elementary school: