Here at STEAMhouse, we champion a creative way of thinking, and exploring STEAM to help solves the world’s issues.
A common question we get asked on this journey is – what’s the difference between STEM and STEAM? And often you hear different answers depending on who you speak to, so we decided to explain it our way!
What is STEM?
STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. It was created to encompass a description of students and subjects that focused on these disciplines
What is STEAM?
STEAM is a branch off from STEM, incorporating the Arts and creative thinking to solve STEM-based issues.
STEAM encourages collaboration and out-of-the-box thinking to help develop a deeper understanding of STEM principles and produce creative solutions and creations like the 3D Printer!
What’s the difference between STEM and STEAM?
When looking at STEM and how it’s different to STEAM, the main difference lies in the way each of them approach scientific concepts.
STEM focuses on the hard scientific, technological, engineering or mathematical skills to drive progress or create a new concept. In STEAM, you are encouraged leverage both hard skills (those gained through first-hand experience, training or education) and soft skills (natural and unique skills to everyone) to solve problems.
There’s also more freedom for creative thinking in STEAM, as you’re looking at providing outcomes to STEM issues that involve a non-scientific solution.
Why is STEAM important?
Future ready working (and workforce)
It feels like a cliché, but we need to be ready for what’s coming in the future, and STEAM is key for future technological developments and working styles. Everything is starting to become digital-focused, so being able to have a digital mindset and creative thinking will make sure generations coming into work will be better prepared.
Visualise concepts that haven’t been realised yet
STEAM thinking (and STEAMhouse too) is all about innovation, so you’ll need to think about concepts, ideas and solutions that may not have existed yet. STEAM opens the doors to subjects that have been around for years and add a new layer of exploration ready to be discovered.
Close the gender gap in STEM/STEAM
STEM is still a male-led industry, and by expanding its scope into STEAM, it opens doors into subjects and skills that can be more accessible to women, and give them the chance to work in STEM subjects without pressure (and an added bonus, it could close the STEM/STEAM gender pay gap!)
