The Next Generation of Innovators Inspired by STEM Education Activities in the Americas (Part 1)

STEAM education focuses on five subject areas: science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. As a leading electronics manufacturer, Murata is committed to STEAM education worldwide as a way to encourage tomorrow’s science and technology leaders and nurture the talent that will drive innovation in the future.

We spoke to Meredith Shapiro, Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Murata Electronics Americas, Inc. (MEA), which includes North America, Central America, and South America, about what MEA does to help develop the next generation through STEM education.

Meredith: “I started my current position in August 2023 and since then, I’ve been working to further develop MEA’s social impact initiatives. While Murata’s global engagement efforts include the arts, MEA is specifically focused on the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) awareness and education. The arts are important. However, we believe we can make a greater impact by narrowing our focus. Our specific goals are to help reduce the STEM skills gap among students, encourage involvement and interest in STEM fields among currently underrepresented groups, and have Murata employees serve as STEM ambassadors in their local communities.”

Meredith added, “Considering that innovation is the foundation of Murata’s business, involvement in STEM education efforts is a natural fit for our social impact initiatives.”

Meredith: “In the United States, improving STEM education is considered an important social issue. According to the World Economic Forum, only 19.6% of American university students obtain STEM degrees. In contrast, STEM-related jobs are expected to increase by 11% between 2020 and 2030.*
While the need to fill STEM jobs is important, all students can develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and curiosity-driven learning skills through the study of STEM subjects so they can succeed, regardless of their occupation or field.”

• *Source: Which countries' students are getting most involved in STEM?

MEA has been involved in many STEM activities, seeing them as the cornerstone of innovation in supporting the development of the next generation.

Meredith: “MEA has supported a variety of STEM education activities. We held a workshop for Georgia Tech students at MEA’s headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, where they could get hands-on experience with Murata solutions and applications, such as wireless sensors and communication modules. We collaborated with a non-profit organization, Science from Scientists^®, to set up a booth at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, where we conducted scientific experiments related to vision and the brain. We also provided a learning experience at Disney World in Orlando, Florida called ‘Growing the Future’ that involved Murata solutions, such as soil sensors to show participants how to provide farmers and agricultural workers with more efficient crop cultivation methods.”

Meredith said that empowering employees to be STEM ambassadors and encouraging them to participate in STEM activities is another important element of MEA’s social impact initiatives.

Meredith: “I am also responsible for managing our ‘Count mea in’ employee volunteer program. The name expresses the idea that MEA encourages each and every employee to contribute to the cultural development of the company, while at the same time fulfilling Murata’s commitment to the communities where our employees work and live by putting our Murata Philosophy into practice.”

In the second part of the interview, we will hear more from Meredith about how MEA is supporting the next generation through STEM awareness and education and what the future holds.

Continue reading:
The Next Generation of Innovators Inspired by STEM Education Activities in the Americas (Part 2)