By Dee Lawlor
Choosing what to study in university is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make! It is especially stressful if you are not entirely sure what you want to do.
STEM as an area covers a wide range of academic subjects, with exciting prospects and opportunities for graduates that have an affinity for the scientific, the analytical and the technical. Want to find out if there’s a good fit for you? Read our guide:
What is “STEM”?
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. All of these disciplines share many common attributes, and it is just a comfortable abbreviation to refer to them. If you like problem solving, critical thinking, learning and exploring, you’re almost guaranteed to find a STEM subject that suits your interests:
- Science: Science is the intellectual and practical exploration and discovery of – well – everything! From the ocean floor to the stars above and everything in between, science is the pursuit of understanding how everything in the universe works and how we can apply that knowledge to making the world a better place.
- Technology: Technology is the process of making machines. The word “technology” comes from the Greek word techne which means “cunning of hand” and that is exactly what technologists do – they take knowledge and convert it into something practical. Computers, smart phones, solar panels, wind turbines, pacemakers, dialysis machines, microwaves and so on are all thanks to technology.
- Engineering: Engineering is the study of materials, and the application of science and mathematics to create working machines, structures, and processes. Engineers invent, design, build and test machines, objects, and structures. Without engineers, we would have no way to bridge the gap between theory and making something real.
- Mathematics: Mathematics is often considered the purest form of language, a way to describe and understand everything in the universe using formulae and numbers. Maths are the basis for other STEM disciplines and Mathematicians are needed in all areas. They analyse numbers to solve practical problems and seek to find the patterns of the natural world.
Aside from “STEM”, you sometimes find similar, but slightly altered acronyms with different meanings:
- STEMM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine
- STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics
- STREAM: like “STEAM”, but with “Reading”
STEAM and STREAM usually refer to the way schoolchildren are taught – to promote a holistic view of school education. For you as a prospective university student, STEM is the relevant term!
Read the full article here: https://www.study.eu/article/7-reasons-to-study-a-stem-degree
