Houston Matters

Professor and First-Generation College Grad Advocates for Minorities in STEM

Posted on · Rice University’s Richard Tapia has spent the better part of 40 years advocating for better STEM education for underrepresented minorities and mentoring students in the math and science fields. The son of Mexican immigrants, he was the first in his family to attend college and says his work is not about armchair quarterbacking. He lived […]

Houston Matters

Where Math Meets Art: The Multiverse of Artist Michael Petry

Posted on · If you saw last year's Best Picture nominee, The Imitation Game, you're familiar with the story of Alan Turing. Turing was a British mathematician and computer scientist who helped crack the Nazi's enigma code, which helped win World War II. And he's considered one of the fathers of computer science. Often, when we think about […]

Houston Matters

Could Art Create Better STEM Students?

Posted on · There's a growing movement to incorporate the arts into STEM learning, an initiative called STEAM. A research project out of the University of Houston says bringing arts into the same fold as science, technology, engineering and math will increase the quality of graduates in those fields. We look at how integrating the arts would impact […]

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Turning STEM into STEAM, Houston Skiers, Into the Woods at Main Street Theater: Houston Matters for Tues., Feb. 11, 2014

Posted on · We sure do love our acronyms, don't we? We watch HBO, type LOL, eat PB&J. In education circles, an acronym of choice for some years now has been STEM – a reference to science, technology, engineering and math – four fields of study in which many would like to see the next generation of Americans […]

Houston Matters

Minorities and STEM

Posted on · Science, technology, engineering and math majors can lead to high-paying jobs, especially in Houston where many of these industries thrive. And yet, there are some disparities when it comes to which students are participating in such STEM programs. African-American and Hispanic students account for less than 15 percent of those graduating with STEM degrees. And […]

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Houston Matters for Wed., Oct. 9, 2013

Posted on · Science, technology, engineering and math – or STEM – majors can lead to high-paying jobs, especially in Houston where many industries rely on people with that knowledge. And yet, there are some disparities when it comes to which students participate in such STEM programs. According to the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, African-Americans […]