DiscoverE believes every student in the world deserves access to free engineering and STEM experiences.
Why does this matter? Numerous studies predict STEM job shortages based on industry growth. The US Bureau of Labor predicts a shortage of six million engineers by the year 2026. STEM occupations are projected to grow over ten percent between 2022 – 2032 to nearly 11.5 million jobs.
We know that we need to interest students in STEM early to create a path to a STEM career. Shockingly students can start to fall out of STEM as early as 4th grade!
DiscoverE has built an active community of organizations, volunteers and educators who use our free programs and services to build excitement about engineering. With your support, we engage 5.5 million K-12 students annually in a STEM experience. That’s an average of 171 students per educator or volunteer.
With all our programs, DiscoverE remains true to our guiding principle of Access for All. Nine out of 10 educators and volunteers agree it is important to have access to DiscoverE’s free resources to engage students in engineering. In fact, Sixty-two percent of DiscoverE educators teach in schools that receive Title I funding, and have free and reduced lunch programs.
As the backbone organization behind some of the earliest and most broadly adopted engineering programs available, DiscoverE’s resources are used by thousands of organizations and individuals around the world — Programs like Engineers Week, Introduce a Girl to Engineering, Future City, World Engineering Day, and Chats with Change Makers.
To address today’s global challenges we need a diverse talent pool in engineering. DiscoverE is a nonprofit dedicated to providing global resources, programs, and connections between K-12 students and engineers and STEM professionals. We have a special focus on reaching girls and underrepresented and underserved students. We would like to double our reach to 10 million students, of which 5 million are from underrepresented populations.
Our programs cover pre-k to work force and intersect at the points of corporate social responsibility, public affairs, and talent acquisition. They are highly collaborative, represent the breadth of engineering, and are compelling yet simple to execute. This strategy enables organizational partners, volunteers, and educators to effectively reach millions of students, parents, and young adults with the message that engineers work with smart, inspiring people to invent, design, and create things that matter.
And we know this works. Every year we survey students, educators and volunteers who use our programs. The results confirm that a shared STEM experience with an engineer/technologist/technician, educator, and student is transformational – for all involved.
- 8 out of 10 students knew what an engineer did after attending a DiscoveE Engineers Week event.
- 98% of students involved in DiscoverE’s Girl Day report they are now interested in doing engineers activities or studying engineering.
- 88% of educators say Future City improved their students’ problem-solving skills.
To achieve this work, DiscoverE is supported by generous donors including the Bechtel Corporation, Bentley Systems, Collins Aerospace, ExxonMobil, NCEES, Northrop Grumman Foundation, the Overdeck Family Foundation, Project Management Institute, Shell Oil Company, TE Connectivity and YOU!
With #GivingTuesday coming up, your gift matters! Donate today to help transform a student’s future with engineering.