Social Landscape of STEM Networks: Mapping Social Networks of a Regional STEM Ecosystem

• In Event: The Geography of Educational Leadership and Policy

Abstract

This study responds to policy priorities to support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education by investigating a multi-sector ecosystem of regional organizations that support a STEM pipeline for education and careers. We use social network analysis to investigate an entire region within California including 316 organizations representing different stakeholder groups. Results indicate high degrees of connections within/between sectors that ironically, despite being education focused, rarely included schools and district as central actors in the ecosystem. Findings have implications for how regional level complex systems are analyzed, led and catalyzed and further reflects the need to intentionally attend to the growth of STEM networks.

Authors

• Yi-Hwa Liou, National Taipei University of Education

• Alan J. Daly, University of California - San Diego