Governor launches Colorado STEM Network

DENVER - Governor Bill Ritter thinks it's such a big issue, he's calling on hundreds around Colorado to help.

"All of us in this room, business leaders, educators, advocates must sustain the state's STEM agenda," said Gov. Ritter.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Governor helped launch the Colorado STEM Network which is designed to build a state-wide coalition of businesses, government, education and community groups to improve learning in these subjects.

"STEM education was just at the heart of the opportunities available for us as a country and what I would argue available for us as a state," said Gov. Ritter.

Dwight Jones, Colorado Commissioner of Education, says this is a big step in improving learning overall.

"I think the department has to say how do we make sure that we create a different opportunity for all of our students in this state," said Jones. "We know that our economy is driven by math and science."

The Colorado STEM Network is a renewed effort expanded from a previous collaboration called COMSTEC. The Governor's office along with the University of Colorado Denver has been working to build the connection between schools, businesses, and advocacy groups.

"Everybody needs to be thinking about math and science," said Dr. Carole Basile, chairman of the Colorado STEM Network and associate professor at UC Denver. "It's where the jobs are. It's what's happening right now."

She points out programs like UC Denver's technology camps for kids should be expanded so more students have an opportunity to explore their interests in technology fields.

"I think that's the key is interest," said Steve Sutton, instructor at "i-camp" at UC Denver. "You can't force someone to learn something. They have to want to learn it."

13-year-old Katana Moody wants to learn it. She spent a week building a robot that can use an "eye" to follow lines around a room.

"It'll help you in the future, if you want a job," said Moody. "Working with computers and stuff, it'll help you already know how to work some of the things."

Basile says the future depends on kids like Moody.

"The end game is not about, can they graduate from high school? Can they graduate from college," said Basile. "It's about whether or not we have kids in Colorado who are a resource for the business and industries of Colorado."