Future

The Future of Spark

STEAM is all around us, driving innovation and shaping our future. Lincoln, a city brimming with STEAM potential, boasts a vibrant business landscape and world-class educational institutions deeply committed to these fields. However, we currently lack a dedicated facility to provide accessible STEAM learning opportunities for all.

To equip our community to meet the challenges of tomorrow, we must expand STEAM learning opportunities today. Spark Lincoln Learning is exploring the creation of a dedicated STEAM Center, a dynamic facility that will foster creativity, innovation, and lifelong learning. Such a space would foster innovation, inspire creativity, and equip our community with the skills needed to thrive in the 21st century.

The Goals and the Why

To address the growing demand for STEAM expertise and to strengthen our community's economic vitality, a dedicated STEAM Center is essential. Such a center would focus on four key areas:


1. Diverse STEAM Education: 

  • The 2022 3M State of Science Report highlights significant barriers to STEM education. A substantial 84% of respondents identified obstacles such as limited classroom STEM opportunities, insufficient STEM educators, and inadequate home internet access.
  • The 2023 Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) science results reveal a significant disparity in student proficiency. Statewide, a concerning 36% of eighth-grade students were classified as "developing," indicating a lack of mastery in foundational science concepts. Moreover, only 8% of eighth-grade students achieved advanced proficiency. Similarly, 24% of fifth-grade students were deemed to lack mastery," while a mere 16% demonstrated advanced proficiency. 
  • While Nebraska's science proficiency gap extends across various socioeconomic and demographic groups, significant disparities persist. According to the National Science Board's 2022 Science and Engineering Indicators Report, students from low-income backgrounds consistently underperform their higher-income peers on standardized tests, with an approximate 10% difference in scores. Locally, only 33% of LPS students eligible for free or reduced lunch achieve math proficiency, compared to 52% of the overall student population, highlighting a 19% disparity.
  • According to the 2023 3M State of Science Index, 77% of respondents believe that underrepresented groups often do not receive equal access to STEM education and 84% believe more must be done to keep underrepresented students engaged in STEM learning. 
  • 87% of respondents in the 2023 3M State of Science Report agree that “if we do not improve STEM education, we will not be able to solve future societal issues.” 

2. STEAM Workforce Development: Equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in STEAM-related careers.

  • According to the World Economic Forum, the United States (along with most other countries) is experiencing a severe shortage of STEM workers. 
  • Research clearly indicates that if children are not engaged in high-quality STEM learning opportunities before the age of 11, they are significantly less likely to pursue STEAM learning or careers (Kaderavek, et. al., 2020).
  • Communities with higher educated populations are more economically robust, innovative, and forward thinking (Lincoln Vital Signs, 2024).
  • According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM occupations are expected to grow by 10.8% between 2022 – 2032 compared to 2% growth of non-STEM occupations.
  • The median annual income of STEM occupations is nearly $100,000 while non-STEM occupations annual incomes are slightly under $45,000. 
  • The Lincoln community has robust STEM industries; for these industries to thrive well into the future, we must engage today’s students in learning basic STEM concepts, exploring STEM career options and discovering the wonders of STEM learning. 

3. Expanded Childcare: Offering reliable and affordable childcare options to support working families and facilitate STEAM education.

  • According to the Lincoln Vital Signs Report, 79% of Lincoln children ages 6-17 had all parents in the workforce. Compared to the national average of 60%, Lincoln has a critical need for high-quality, affordable children. 
  • The lack of affordable childcare is a significant issue for children, families, and the economy. Without childcare, many families lack the infrastructure to gain, maintain and grow their household income – a direct loss for not only the family, but also businesses and the state. A report by Nebraska First Five shows that the families in Nebraska lose out on nearly $490 million in income each year due to lack of childcare.

4. Education-Industry Partnerships: Fostering collaboration between educators, researchers, and industry leaders to drive innovation and economic growth.