Are scientific subjects, or STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), really important for our everyday lives?
We often tend to underestimate their role in everyday life while in reality, even if we do not perceive it, the applications of these materials permeate many aspects of our days, contributing significantly to the well-being of each of us.
- More informed and effective decisions
STEM skills play a role that goes beyond the confines of classrooms and specialized careers, giving us the tools needed to effectively address a wide range of common situations.
Whether planning a family budget or understanding the implications of a new regulation, the skills behind logical mathematical reasoning (analyzing, simplifying, quantifying, assessing risks and verifying) are essential to overcome everyday challenges large and small.
The choices we make every day can have a lasting impact on our future and the future of those around us.
Yet, especially when we have little time available or feel inadequate regarding a certain topic (such as money management), we are naturally led to make decisions by letting ourselves be guided by emotional impulses and mental traps.
Mastering the basics of STEM subjects provides us with valuable support for making informed decisions.
- Keeping up with innovation and complexity
Today, STEM subjects fuel the innovation that drives the evolution of society. Therefore, adequate literacy in these fields allows us to better experience scientific developments and their implications for the community.
Technology is now an integral part of our days: from free time to the world of work or the management of personal finances. Being in possession of the tools that allow us to master it becomes crucial.
We often think that this is an issue that only concerns older generations; in reality, even the so-called digital generations do not always possess the necessary skills to experience new opportunities in a conscious way.
From the search for reliable information online to the right to privacy, up to the ability to distinguish reliable news from possible fake news, many young people are not really prepared to face the “new normal”.
Also for this reason, the contribution given by scientific subjects is essential to be able to understand the functioning of the world in which we live. In fact, STEM, in addition to offering important technical skills, trains logical thinking, which allows us to better manage complexity in all its forms.
- Career opportunities
Today, there is a high demand for STEM skills in the job market.
Those who have studied these subjects can access better career opportunities more easily.
From the more traditional professions, linked to engineering and IT, to the new frontiers of artificial intelligence and biotechnology, the demand for STEM talent is growing in various sectors: healthcare, energy, environment and finance.
In summary, having a basic preparation in STEM helps us to move successfully in a complex, technologically advanced and constantly evolving reality.
The widespread idea that scientific subjects are complicated, and for only a few, is misleading. Various initiatives show how it is possible to teach mathematics to everyone through games. The scientific way of thinking, based on observation and experimentation, on measurement, on the production of results by generalization (induction) and on the confirmation of such results through a certain number of checks is the example of rational logical reasoning which is also the basis of financial education.
The Museum of Saving offers training courses, webinars and events dedicated to teaching the basics of economics in a simple and fun way, to help all people take care of their money.
To find out more, visit the site and read our blog.