STEM is an acronym for the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.  These disciplines are a pile of fun, with a good deal of hard work mixed in, but Americans consistently seem to steer clear of them.  I’ve never understood why.

On the flip side, we have an entire industry in Hollywood dedicated to science fiction and special effects, few of which are grounded in real life.  Movies rarely present STEM fields or STEM professionals in a realistic or favorable light.  The industry loves blowing things up for effect, but shows little appreciation for the fields that make their magic possible.

That’s a shame.  Most Americans know little or nothing about STEM fields, and consequently don’t study them or go into them.  So Hollywood, how about some realism?  How about some technical accuracy?  How about some respect?  Not only will your movies be more compelling, but you will also help awaken the imaginations and passions of future scientists, engineers, and mathematicians.

Do any of my readers even know what STEM fields bring us?  Computers, the internet, GPS, iPhones, cars, satellites, planes, PlayStation, pacemakers, radars, gene sequencing, encryption, cellular communication, digital cameras, cosmology, MRI, recycling, electronic banking, DVDs, quantum computing, social media, amazon.com, robotics, X-rays, superconductors, superglue, plastic, general relativity, bridges, zoology, the Higgs boson, and so on.

Hollywood, just give us fair treatment, and in addition to making better movies, you’ll be doing your viewers a public service, at very little additional expense.