Even though the acronym STEM was coined in 2001, the history of STEM education dates back to the twentieth century after it gained recognition post industrial revolution.

We are referring to a historical context marked by significant industrial milestones such as Einstein’s publication on the theory of relativity, which fundamentally changed our understanding of physics (1901); the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik, Earth’s first artificial satellite (1957); the establishment of NASA (1958); the first human landing on the moon (1969); and the inception of the internet with ARPANET in the 1960s, to name a few notable events.

Many countries, aiming to make significant contributions in the field of STEM, have emphasized STEAM education to foster innovation and prepare the next generation for the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

 For example, the first major research efforts in this area can be traced back to the United States following the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik. This event caused significant alarm in the U.S., highlighting a potential gap in technological and scientific capabilities between the United States and the Soviet Union.

 The National Science Foundation (NSF) of the U.S., established in 1950, played a pivotal role in funding and conducting research on STEM education. This effort quickly inspired other countries to follow suit.

The US is recognised as one of the first countries to formally recognise STEM Education with the enforcement of National Defense Education Act (NDEA) in 1958, which provided significant funding for education in STEM fields and marked the beginning of a focused effort to enhance STEM education in the United States.