STEM is an abbreviation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Science in STEM refers to the natural sciences (aka sciences that study the natural world, such as physics, chemistry and biology). Mathematics is used in a broader sense representing formal sciences (which also include logics and statistics). Technology and Engineering refer to the application of scientific knowledge to design, produce, and operate machines and other technical constructions for providing technical solutions and facilitating civilisation.

STEM education is more than just teaching the fundamentals of its various components. According to the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), STEM education is “an interdisciplinary approach to learning where rigorous academic concepts are coupled with real-world lessons as students apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in contexts that make connections between school, community, work, and the global enterprise enabling the development of STEM literacy and with it the ability to compete in the new economy.”.