NMA Recognizes STEM Education’s Role in Scientific and Technological Innovations

Across the country, students are celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week. Here at the National Mining Association (NMA), we understand how vital early education is in inspiring and affecting the lives of our youth. Our unwavering commitment to support and encourage science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education helps keep American mining at the forefront of scientific development and technological advancement, which ultimately boosts our economy and the livelihoods of American people.

NMA supports communities through millions of dollars of charitable contributions to educational initiatives every year. For example, NMA member Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold invests approximately $1.5 to $2 million in STEM education at the K-12 level and pledges $1.5 million to support STEM teacher development programs for 100kin10, a multi-sector effort to prepare, deploy and support 100,000 STEM teachers in the United States over the next 10 years.

The U.S. mining industry provides more than 1.2 million jobs nationwide, thus investment in STEM education is extremely important to prepare new generations of mining innovators to fill these jobs. This investment can ultimately help meet the nation’s demand for STEM careers, which will bolster America’s competitiveness and economic prosperity.