The MASSIVE STEM Graduate Exodus - What’s Going Wrong? | John Skrentny

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Brian Keating

Science, Physics, Natural Sciences

4.7 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 4 August 2024

⏱️ 62 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Did you know that most STEM graduates don't end up working in STEM fields? This surprising fact isn’t due to a lack of demand—tech companies dominate our landscape, from AI to smartphones, yet up to 70% of STEM graduates choose different paths. Why is that? Are we failing our STEM graduates? I sat down with John Skrentny, a renowned sociologist and professor at UCSD. John recently explored this issue in his thought-provoking book Wasted Education. We unpack why many STEM graduates feel undervalued and unfulfilled in their jobs, leading them to leave the field entirely. John shares his thoughts on the cultural and systemic problems within the tech industry that contribute to this attrition. From poor employer treatment to the toxic work culture, we discuss what needs to change to retain our brightest minds in STEM. How can we better support them? Tune in to this thought-provoking episode to find out. — Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:07 Realities of STEM education and employment 12:18 The leaky pipeline in STEM education 17:35 Job satisfaction of STEM grads 18:36 Wasted Education Book Review 23:32 The ambiguity in the categorization of STEM 41:35 AI and the Future of STEM 51:12 Importance of science communication 58:04 STEM skills treadmill and constant retraining — Additional resources: ➡️ Connect with John Skrentny: Website: https://quote.ucsd.edu/jskrentny/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnskrentny Wasted Education Book: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/W/bo206855230.html Other books: https://quote.ucsd.edu/jskrentny/books/ —- ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast — Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Did you know that most STEM graduates don't end up working in STEM fields is true?
0:05.2	And it's not due to a lack of demand.
0:07.5	Tech companies dominate our landscape, ranging from everything from artificial intelligence
0:11.8	to smartphones, searching the web, blockchain and beyond.
0:15.3	And despite the fact that these tech companies dominate the environment, the economy and
0:19.3	the looming global cries for scientific solutions from STEM fields.
0:24.0	They're not losing STEM graduates due to a lack of funding.
0:27.0	We've in fact poured billions into STEM programs.
0:30.0	Yet, despite this, up to 70% of STEM graduates choose not to pursue careers in their fields.
0:35.0	So why is that?
0:35.8	I had the incredible opportunity to communicate to share these ideas with my UCSD colleague,
0:40.8	who's a world-renowned sociologist John Scrantney who recently explored these
0:45.2	issues in his wonderful new book, Wasted Education.
0:48.5	I know it's not going to be a waste for you to tune in so let's go into the
0:51.8	impossible John Scrant. Advanced Technology is indistinguishable from magic.
1:04.0	Open the pod bay doors now.
1:07.0	Welcome to the Into the Impossible Podcast
1:10.0	where we feature for the very first time a sociologist who is joining us all the way from the other side of campus.
1:17.0	John Scranton, did I probably correct, John, close enough?
1:20.0	It's good enough, it's good enough. And that was a long walk. long walk yeah I'm I'm proud to introduce
1:25.1	you this building we've never had we've had some socialists on we've never had a sociologist
1:29.2	on the podcast and so I want to start with a semi-perocative question, which is you make the case in this wonderful book,
	...

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