Globally, the United States is losing its edge in the education of our students – most acutely in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).  This education deficit places us behind many of the nation’s we compete and work with around the world.  If we don’t reverse these trends, the deficit in science and math education will leave us critically short on the fuel that drives American innovation: scientifically literate students, teachers, and citizens who create new solutions to important problems.

The good news is that we can fix this.  We can bring together students, teachers, academics and policy makers who recognize the importance of STEM education.  Together, we can discuss how to best support and improve STEM education in the United States, foster innovation and maintain our global competitiveness.

This is why on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 in Washington, DC, the Aspen Institute, Intel Corporation, PBS NewsHour and Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) are convening a digital town hall conversation on this issue: Education for Innovation.

Together, our goal is to develop collaborative and thoughtful insights into the state of STEM education today and how we can give our students the education they need to become the innovators of tomorrow.

The digital town hall will be webcast live via PBS NewsHour on Tuesday, December 7.  Check back here for further details in the coming weeks. 

In addition, today the Aspen Institute hosts the second forum of the Innovation in Education Series on the topic, “Transforming Teaching Through Technology.”  Moderated by Jeffrey Brown of the PBS NewsHour, participants include experts in education, technology, and the practical fusion of these two fields.  Featured guests include:  

• Blair Levin, Senior Fellow, Aspen Institute, lead author of the National Broadband Plan for America
• Joel Rose, creator and CEO of School of One in New York City
• Michael Horn, co-author (with Clayton Christensen) of Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change How the World Learns, Executive Director of Education at Innosight Institute
• Carlos Contreras, U.S. Education Director, Intel Corporation

Video of their discussion will be available soon, I encourage you to check back here and watch.  In the mean time, video of the first Innovation in Education forum featuring Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is available here.