The hottest STEM Education Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

How Kids Actually Get Good at Math in America

The Intrinsic Perspective • 9066 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🚌 Education STEM Education
  1. Math requires automaticity: kids need regular practice so their skills stay fresh and they can move from "learning math" to using math to learn other things.
  2. Schools alone rarely produce top-tier math talent; specialized extracurricular programs and math communities are the places that consistently develop students to competition and advanced levels.
  3. To get really good at math, parents often need to plan early and use the right resources to keep math fun and sustained, since many powerful programs exist but are geographically limited and not widely known.

Advanced Math for Kids: Numbers and Functions Follow The Same Rules

Kids Who Love Math • 587 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🚌 Education STEM Education
  1. Numbers and functions follow the same basic rules: you can add them and scale them, order and grouping don’t matter, there is a zero, and every element has an opposite.
  2. When different things obey the same rules they share a structure, so math becomes about spotting patterns and analogies across different systems.
  3. You can explore this with kids by trying different functions and operations (like f(x)=x^2 or g(x)=3x) so they see the same rules hold in a hands-on way.

When The Times asked, “Why is Britain educating China’s scientists?” What did they really overlook? by Michael Jinghan ZENG

Pekingnology • 101 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🚌 Education STEM Education
  1. Treating Chinese students as strategic threats and closing academic openness will damage the UK's universities and its role as a global centre of ideas.
  2. UK universities depend heavily on tuition from international students, especially Chinese postgrads, and losing that income would trigger layoffs, cuts, and a fall in research capacity.
  3. The global higher-education map is changing as Asian universities rise and students have more options, so the share of Chinese students in the UK will likely adjust; narrowing the focus to ‘British’ STEM while sidelining the humanities would weaken the UK's soft power and intellectual influence.

Deep Knowledge, and Three Ways to Get There

Human Programming • 51 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🚌 Education STEM Education
  1. Deep knowledge combines lasting, rigorous ideas with true, detailed understanding instead of shallow, trendy consumption.
  2. People reach deep knowledge in different ways — sustained reading and practice, formal academic training and mentorship, or interdisciplinary applied work — but all involve lots of reading, writing, and hands-on experience.
  3. To build deep knowledge, pick subjects that feel solid and meaningful, find communities or mentors, and be willing to commit years of focused study and practical work rather than quick browsing.

DEI versus Asians in STEM

Heterodox STEM • 185 implied HN points • 24 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics STEM Education
  1. DEI policies in STEM often discriminate against Asians because their strong math performance is used to justify limiting their representation. This creates unfair advantages for other groups instead of raising overall math standards.
  2. In sports, we celebrate diverse talent without enforcing racial quotas. Similarly, the focus in academics should be on merit and excellence without penalizing high achievers based on their background.
  3. Addressing educational disparities requires understanding the root causes of performance differences, rather than implementing policies that might reduce opportunities for successful students.
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The Anti-Productive Crisis in US Universities

Heterodox STEM • 234 implied HN points • 06 Jul 25
🚌 Education STEM Education
  1. US universities are struggling to align with job market needs, leading to many graduates feeling unprepared for the workforce. This has created a divide between valuable technical skills and less valued liberal arts education.
  2. Many students are majoring in fields that don't offer good job prospects, leading to high debt and disappointment. A significant number of graduates may not earn back their investment in education.
  3. There's a growing need for universities to rethink their focus, particularly on STEM fields, to better prepare students for future job markets. Emphasizing technical skills could help students secure better-paying jobs.

The Social Justice of STEM

Heterodox STEM • 135 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics STEM Education
  1. Using STEM can really help people and make the world a better place. However, focusing too much on social justice can discourage innovation and growth.
  2. Equality and equity are different concepts. True equity may require some sacrifices, but fairness often gets complicated by bureaucracy and can lead to frustration.
  3. STEM advancements have significantly benefited underprivileged communities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, improving lives and access to technology in many ways.

Pivot to Space: Key Educational Resources for Industry Transition and Advantage

Space Ambition • 279 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🚌 Education STEM Education
  1. Learning about space technology can help many industries like agriculture and tourism. It can give you a better job and help your company succeed.
  2. The more talented people we have in the space industry, the better solutions we can find for Earth's problems, like climate change. Space technology can improve our lives here on Earth.
  3. There are many great educational programs and resources for anyone interested in space. Whether you're new to the topic or an experienced professional, there's something out there for you to learn.

More Evidence of Biases Against Men than Against Women in Faculty Hiring

Unsafe Science • 100 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🚌 Education STEM Education
  1. Many experimental studies show that men face more bias than women in academic hiring. This means that when faculty evaluate job candidates, they're often less favorable towards male applicants than females.
  2. The data from a major study indicates that women are hired more than their numbers in the applicant pool would suggest. This suggests that hiring practices might favor women in certain areas.
  3. There's a big gap in how research about gender bias is cited. Studies that find bias against women get talked about much more than those that find bias against men, even when there is more evidence for the latter.

What I would change at NSF

Heterodox STEM • 355 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🔬 Science STEM Education
  1. The NSF should refocus on funding high-quality scientific research based solely on merit rather than identity politics.
  2. Key reforms include changing their vision and core values to prioritize excellence in science.
  3. Unnecessary offices and initiatives that do not contribute to scientific advancement should be eliminated to streamline the NSF's efforts.

Revamping Math Education

Heterodox STEM • 99 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
🚌 Education STEM Education
  1. Math education could be more interesting and useful. Students should learn concepts like calculus and coding, which are important for understanding technology today.
  2. The current teaching approach is too focused on memorization and lacks real-world problem-solving. Instead, it should simplify concepts to aid understanding from the start.
  3. Some changes need to happen, like integrating coding into math lessons and allowing students to progress based on ability rather than age. This can help everyone learn better and faster.

Make Math Obvious

Kids Who Love Math • 251 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🚌 Education STEM Education
  1. Math is everywhere in daily life, and parents can help kids see that. Pointing out math moments, like counting socks or planning in games, makes it more fun.
  2. Even if something seems obvious to adults, it may not be to kids. Making the role of math clear in everyday situations helps kids appreciate it more.
  3. The goal is to help kids enjoy math by showing them how it connects to their interests and experiences. Keep it light-hearted and fun to spark their curiosity.

METI’s 2025 “Digital Cliff, Part III

Japan Economy Watch • 219 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🕹 Technology STEM Education
  1. Changes in the labor market are compensating for the shortage in ICT professionals due to lack of government action.
  2. Companies are offering higher wages to attract experienced ICT workers, and mid-career hiring has significantly increased.
  3. Immigration could be a solution to the ICT labor shortage, but low pay in Japan compared to other countries is a major hindrance.

Does STEM Have Any Value?

Heterodox STEM • 177 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🔬 Science STEM Education
  1. STEM significantly contributes to human progress by improving health, wealth, and technology.
  2. STEM fields require dedication and constant learning to stay relevant due to rapid advancements.
  3. Criticism of STEM often comes from misunderstandings and jealousy from other disciplines such as the humanities.

The Foundry. A University Alternative.

A Journey of Learning • 39 implied HN points • 25 Feb 23
🚌 Education STEM Education
  1. Proposing a radical alternative to traditional universities focused on self-directed learning and building things.
  2. Highlighting the drawbacks of current higher education systems, especially in engineering and science fields.
  3. Describing a vision for 'The Foundry' as an interdisciplinary, self-motivated, and hands-on learning environment.

Alessandro Strumia | The War on Science Interviews | Day 14

Critical Mass • 3 implied HN points • 07 Aug 25
🔬 Science STEM Education
  1. The series features 20 interviews with authors discussing the challenges facing science and scholarship today. They explore topics like academic integrity and how social justice activism can impact research.
  2. These dialogues aim to raise awareness about the damage being done to scientific progress and the importance of free speech in academia. The discussions are direct and thought-provoking.
  3. The project encourages public engagement and aims to restore trust in science and scholarship. It's a call for academics to unite and address the internal issues affecting universities.

#32: Ariadna Farres: insights from NASA's legendary research lab, building the future of space tech, lessons to improve STEM ecosystems

Views • 0 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🕹 Technology STEM Education
  1. From humble beginnings in Barcelona, Ariadna Farres made her way to NASA through perseverance and determination.
  2. Ariadna's doctoral research in Mathematics and space navigation, focusing on solar sails, led her to specialize in astrodynamics at NASA.
  3. In order to improve STEM education, we need more diverse role models, engaging storytelling, and innovative evaluation methods.