Lately I have noticed a growing trend to encourage people to pursue careers in STEM, an acronym which stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. I find this acronym, developed by the National Science Foundation in the 1990s, to be a bit clunky. My own personal definition of the word “science” has always been broad enough to include engineering and technology as well. Putting that aside, recommending that a young person consider a career in STEM is a rather broad brush. So I thought I’d give you my opinion on which STEM fields I think will have growing importance in coming decades:

Marine Science

In recent decades, primarily as a result of over-fishing, we have seen the near elimination of several species of ocean fish near the top of the food chain, including cod and bluefin tuna. While this is problematic, the implications are far less troubling than those stemming from new challenges that our oceans face today due to global warming. Warmer air with higher carbon dioxide concentration leads to warmer and more acidic water. These conditions are harming species at the bottom of the food chain. In particular, populations of plankton, krill and small fish such as sardines are plummeting. If the bottom of the food chain is wiped out, then the entire ecosystem will collapse.

I also anticipate an increase in seaweed farming in coming decades. Seaweed can be used as food for people and livestock, is a great fertilizer, and can also be used as an ingredient in a variety of personal care products such as lotions and creams. Between the need to try to save and revitalize the ocean ecosystem and the increase in seaweed production – goals which need not be in competition with one another – the world will need many more marine scientists.

Agricultural Science

Two fascinating areas in agricultural sciences in the coming decades will be the study of soil microbes and the development of biotech processes to make nitrogen fertilizers. Fertile, productive soil contains high concentrations of organic matter and large populations of beneficial microorganisms. Unfortunately, our current model of industrial farming, with its annual or biannual process of tilling the soil with heavy machinery, significantly depletes the soil of both organic matter and microorganisms. While farmers and gardeners around the world understand the benefits of replenishing the soil’s organic content by applying manure or compost, our scientific knowledge of the microorganisms that live in the soil is quite limited. As a result, we currently have a significant blind spot in how we might best utilize microorganisms in farming. As an example, consider that last fall three teenage girls won a Google science competition and garnered international recognition by discovering that bacteria they found on the roots of a pea plant could dramatically increase the germination rate and crop yield of barley, an important staple crop in food-stressed areas of the world. If three teenagers with limited resources can make such a noteworthy discovery, think of what we could accomplish through well funded efforts at our colleges and universities.

Another key issue in 21st century agriculture will be the production of nitrogen fertilizers, a key limiting factor in plant growth. The difficult step in making nitrogen fertilizers is converting nitrogen from the air, N2, into ammonia, NH3. For the past 100 years, we have been using the high-temperature, high-energy Haber-Bosch process.(1) Over time, the costs of industrial nitrogen fertilizers produced this way have grown, straining the profit margins of farmers. Fortunately, there are a variety of microorganisms which can convert nitrogen into ammonia, a process commonly called nitrogen fixation. And they do it for free! I am confident that with further study we can find ways to harness nitrogen fixation by bacteria to produce nitrogen fertilizers cost-effectively, either on the industrial scale on on-site at the farm.

Power Generation and Distribution

Solar and wind power is becoming cheaper and cheaper as time passes and will soon establish a clear cost advantage compared to fossil fuel-generated electricity. Not only will this dynamic dramatically increase the number solar and wind power generating facilities, both industrial and domestic, but it will drive a major transition and upgrade in our national power distribution network. The upgraded distribution system, generally referred to as a smart grid, will require advanced sensors and other sophisticated electronic equipment. Building and maintaining the smart grid is going to require a significant number of electrical engineers, mathematicians, and electricians.

Electricians, Plumbers, Welders, Pipefitters, and Mechanics

As I observe trends that are already occurring (such as the development of local food networks) and consider other changes that I anticipate occurring in the future, I am confident that we will need more people trained in the types of professions listed above. Consider the following examples:

  • houses with solar power systems, solar water heating, and computer control of systems for all utilities;
  • farms with hydroponics, high-tech green houses, and onsite bioreactors to produce nitrogen-based fertilizers; and
  • towns rewired with fiber optic cables for electronic communications.

If I were a better wordsmith, I could come up with a catchy name for this phenomenon and write a widely successful book about it. But alas, I am not. In the meantime, please consider these areas if you are thinking of entering the world of STEM.

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(1) For more details on the Haber-Bosch process, please refer to my earlier column, Fun with Fritz and Carl.