San Diego, CA—The San Diego STEM Ecosystem’s Central Project Office, the Fleet Science Center, is excited to announce the arrival of the ecosystem’s official website, www.SDSTEMEcosystem.org.

The website is a great resource both for organizations providing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) opportunities and for people looking for STEM opportunities. Its easy-to-use functionality allows website visitors to access all kinds of offerings, including workshops, events, mentorship, work-based learning and more. The website also provides STEM knowledge and news as well as a reference library. The goal of the San Diego STEM Ecosystem, embodied through this website, is to support collaborations across education, science and industry to ensure learners of all ages have opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills they need to thrive.

The San Diego STEM Ecosystem brings together local stakeholders throughout our region that are committed to cultivating and sustaining a robust and equitable STEM community. The initiative how community partners, in and outside of school, can coordinate efforts and align resources to provide quality STEM education for more students. When we surround San Diego residents with STEM-rich learning environments, our region, individuals and businesses can reach their full potential.

The San Diego STEM Ecosystem is part of a national initiative. In addition to ensuring students can take advantage of an ecosystem of STEM learning opportunities, the initiative also implements the Collective Action Method: common agenda, shared measurement, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication and backbone support.

The San Diego STEM Ecosystem started in June 2015, when the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) received an invitation to apply to be part of the National STEM Ecosystem initiative. The SDCOE, San Diego Science Alliance (SDSA), the Fleet Science Center and the YMCA collaborated to submit the application to be part of the national effort. In January 2016, it was decided that the Fleet Science Center, with its expertise and experience in STEM, would take on spearheading the initiative and become the Central Project Office. After setting up the very first group and gathering approximately 70 Ecosystem partners across education, industry, government and philanthropy, the aspiration statement and design principles of the Ecosystem were determined.

As of September 2018, the San Diego STEM Ecosystem has over 300 community partners, six working groups that meet monthly (Business Partnerships, Expanding Access, Women in STEM, Innovation in K-12, Early Childhood STEM and Environmental Education) and three primary executive-level teams (Executive Leadership Team, Steering Committee and Communications Subcommittee).

The next generations must be equipped to become the thinkers, problem solvers and innovators we need today and in the future. All learners need the opportunity to be immersed in science, technology, engineering and math—to make our world a better place.

For more information about the San Diego STEM Ecosystem and its collaborations and opportunities, visit SDSTEMEcosystem.org.