This section of SportTechie, “SportTechie Wire”, contains original press releases issued by various companies and industry organizations. The releases are reviewed by the SportTechie editorial staff to ensure relevancy to the sports technology industry. For information and access, send your name and email address to info@SportTechie.com
May 10th, 2017 – Global organizations launch the first-ever coalition on sport’s role in STEM education
- Beyond Sport, 49ers Foundation, Chevron and Verizon create the Sport and STEM Alliance
- 200 leaders in business, sport, development and tech shape the agenda at Levi’s Stadium
- Sports organizations offer global businesses a new opportunity to embed STEM skills in their future workforce
SANTA CLARA, CALIF., May 10, 2017 – The future of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education took a crucial step forward with the launch of the Sport and STEM Alliance during Beyond Innovation, a global gathering of leaders at Levi’s Stadium on Tuesday. The Sport and STEM Alliance is a coalition of like-minded, leading global organizations driving innovation in STEM education through sports.
The world needs a workforce of skilled STEM innovators to address not only the most pressing global challenges of the coming century: food shortages, exponential increases in non-communicable diseases, climate change, energy shortages, and more, but also for governments to drive their economic prosperity.
In the next decade, 80% of jobs will require STEM skills; responsible, leading, organisations know that their future workforce – and subsequent returns – will rely on the next generation being inspired to engage in STEM education from a young age. STEM jobs are growing at 1.7 times the rate of non-STEM jobs, and the U.S. is not producing enough candidates to fill them. Only 16% of high school seniors are interested in pursuing STEM careers, according to the Department of Education.
Sport has long been heralded as a powerful platform with which to engage society, and it has become increasingly sophisticated in both its programming and the social issues on which it can make an impact. The 49ers, the NHL, Chelsea Football Club Foundation and the NBA have already shown that sport can play a role in getting, and keeping, more young people engaged in STEM subjects. (See Notes to Editors)
Since 2009, Beyond Sport, the global force for sustainable change through sport, has taken a broad view of what sport can do for society. Recognizing the pressing need for new approaches to STEM education, Beyond Sport came together with the 49ers Foundation and Chevron to host Beyond Innovation, the first-ever event that explored how sports can be leveraged as a tool to improve, empower and create new approaches to STEM education.
Global influencers and decision makers from government, business and sports convened to hear from the likes of Pixar, EverFi, US 2020, Chelsea Football Club Foundation and HP, and were challenged to explore the opportunity for sports to be part of the solution to the very real challenge of preventing the predicted shortfall of 85million skilled jobs in the global economy by 2020.
Joanne Pasternack, Vice President & Executive Director, 49ers Foundation commented about hosting the event and on the Alliance, “To have the home of the 49ers as the backdrop for Beyond Innovation’s second-ever convening was special for the 49ers Foundation, which has worked for years to introduce innovative approaches to STEM education through efforts like the 49ers STEM Leadership Institute. The Sport and STEM Alliance will be a force for change as we look for ways to better prepare students for STEM-based careers and the 49ers Foundation is honored to be considered a founding member alongside Beyond Sport, Chevron and Verizon.”
The Voice of the 49ers, Ted Robinson, drew Beyond Innovation to a close with an upsurge of commitments from delegates to be part of this vital movement.
The outcomes of the event shaped the mission and objectives of the Sport and STEM Alliance, which will take action on key challenges in STEM education by sharing best practice, commissioning research, and widening the network and stakeholders in sport.
Steve Woodhead, Manager, Global Social Investment, Chevron commented on the Alliance, “STEM Education is imperative to ensuring today’s students are prepared to be tomorrows innovators. Engaging more students and increasing our collective impact requires partnership across the private and public sectors. Chevron is proud to work with Beyond Sport and all participants of Beyond Innovation to support young people in STEM”.
Joining the Founding Members of the Alliance – Beyond Sport, 49ers Foundation, Chevron and Verizon – are Two Circles, UNICEF, EverFi, Direct TV, HP and Chelsea Football Club Foundation.
Nick Keller, Founder & President of Beyond Sport commented, “When the 49ers won Beyond Sport’s Team of the Year in 2015, we took a closer look at what more sport could do in STEM through its ability to inspire young minds, to offer a wealth of practical and meaningful applications of the STEM subjects; and its remarkable capacity to engage corporates. Beyond Innovation was the ideal launchpad for the Sport and STEM Alliance, and we’ve already seen commitments from some of the largest businesses in the world to be part of this unique opportunity to leverage sport in the pursuit of engaging, effective and impactful approaches to STEM education.”
The Alliance will meet for the first time in New York City at Beyond Sport United, a two-day event supported by the major US leagues – MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, WNBA – which will draw together sports teams, leagues and brands with global development organizations, grassroot practitioners, social movement and campaigning entities, and international sports governing bodies to explore where sport’s role is in the current socio-political landscape.
***************************************ENDS*************************************
For further information regarding the Sport and STEM Alliance, please contact:
Radha Balani – Director of Strategy & Business Development – radha@beyondsport.org / +44 207 240 7700
Press Accreditation is available for Beyond Sport United (NYC 26-27 July 2017), please contact Fred Turner – Director of Content – fred@beyondsport.org / +44 207 240 7700
About 49ers Foundation
The San Francisco 49ers Foundation is the non-profit community funding extension of the San Francisco 49ers. Now in its 26th year, the 49ers Foundation supports development programs for underserved youth to keep them “Safe, On Track, and In School.” Since 1991, the Foundation has donated $40 million to non-profits, committing $4 million in 2016 and supporting 75 community outreach events representing over 1,200 hours of service from 49ers players, alumni, ownership, coaches, executives and staff. In recognition of their unparalleled commitment to charitable giving, the 49ers were the winners of the Beyond Sport 2015 Sport Team of the Year Award and one of four finalists for the 2015 and 2016 ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year Award. For more information on the 49ers Foundation, please visit http://www.49ersfoundation.com.
About Chevron
Chevron Corporation is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. Through its subsidiaries that conduct business worldwide, the company is involved in virtually every facet of the energy industry. Chevron explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and lubricants; manufactures and sells petrochemicals and additives; generates power; and develops and deploys technologies that enhance business value in every aspect of the company’s operations. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.