United by a Common Goal: The Collaborative Aspect of STEM

By Asal Mohammadi

Whether you’ve been on a competitive team in school or you have ever asked a friend for help on math homework, the big picture remains the same: teamwork is essential to a successful path in the broad field that is STEM. While competition is healthy in a way that drives students to challenge each other, collaboration can also provide meaningful experiences to those wishing to advance and further their knowledge in STEM fields. Collaboration in STEM allows people to embrace each other’s ideas and opinions. In doing so, collaboration builds a culture based on creativity and listening to others. In a collaborative setting, people tend to lean towards implementing and experimenting with each other’s ideas, rather than trying to overshadow each other in more competitive, high-stakes environments. That is not to say that competition is not healthy, but rather that competition mixed with collaboration can lead to greater findings and advancements in STEM specialties. As such, it is important for younger generations to work in close collaboration with one another; in doing so, a more open and friendly community can be formed with common goals and interests.

There is a reason why many refer to STEM researchers and experts as a “community.” This is due to a sense of fellowship that is fostered among these experts that builds excitement and progress when a new finding or breakthrough is achieved. If you wish to see it for yourself, you only need to scroll or turn the pages of a scientific journal to the “Works Cited” page. On this page, you might see dozens of citations crediting the work of other researchers who indirectly or directly aided in the findings you hold in your hand. Even your doctor’s office that you visit for an annual checkup involves many people that help keep the practice running and functional.

Importantly, one of the features of STEM collaboration is the fact that people working in different fields can come together and work on common goals.

International Conference on Engineering, Technology, and Innovation, photo/The KMedu Hub

Pictured here is the International Conference on Engineering, Technology, and Innovation hosted by the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. The conference invites many scholars from around the globe to come together to discuss important developments, issues, and common problems faced in their work. These conferences are frequent within the STEM community as the importance of collaboration is widely recognized as a factor in advancement. STEM also provides opportunities for experts to visit each other in their respective fields to gain insight, ideas, and even advice. Truly, it is amazing to see what people throughout history have come up with just by using knowledge from their predecessors and those around them. In a way, collaboration has made the world what it is today.

Works Cited

Haruna, Umar, and Ibrahim. “The Need for an Effective Collaboration across Science,

Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Fields for a Meaningful

Technological Development in Nigeria.” Online), vol. 6, no. 25, 2015,

files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1078485.pdf.

Jolly, Anne. “Building Teamwork in STEM Classes.” Education Week, 11 Aug. 2015,

www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-building-teamwork-in-stem-

classes/2015/08.

Silicon. “Competition versus Collaboration in STEM Education.” Silicon Republic, 2 Jan.

2018, www.siliconrepublic.com/careers/collaboration-stem-education.