Dear Editor,
One important component of education is the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). These are the backbone on which many current and future jobs in America will be based. This is not to diminish the importance of English grammar and speech, foreign languages, history, or the Arts such as music, drawing, painting, or sculpture, nor physical education. However, emphasis has recently been put on STEM in America, just as it was after Sputnik and the Space race. That is why STEM is a component of the February 8 bond issue.
In Northwest Oklahoma, there are at least seven major areas of work that involve STEM: Energy; Communication and computer technology; Transportation and Shipping; Tourism; Agriculture; Health Care and Mining. STEM is also important in city, county, state and federal jobs in the area.
Within the area of Energy, STEM is heavily used in oil and gas exploration and production. Converting sunlight (solar) to electricity is ever more evident in our area. Wind, with its improvements in aerodynamics and transmission uses STEM extensively. The conversion of geothermal to effective heating and cooling as in the new high school utilizes STEM extensively. Hydrogen, a promising fuel for our area will require these tools to be most effective.
Communication jobs also utilize STEM. Internet transmission through copper and more recently through fiber optic cables opens Blaine County to the world and vice versa. Cellular phone service including the latest technology, 5G, would not be possible without STEM. Over the air, cable and now live streaming through the internet all use STEM. In addition, transportation and shipping use STEM. Three major highways crossing at Watonga give access to all corners of the state and surrounding states. The regional airport, the heliport at the hospital and even a private railroad for carrying grains are all importantly impacted by STEM. US Postal service, UPS, FedEx use stem extensively.
The efficient production of grains, soy, hay, cattle, sheep, goats, cedar timbers and marijuana rely heavily on STEM for efficient utilization of weather, fertilizers, planting dates, weed control, watering, harvesting and marketing. Mining in the area also utilizes STEM in the production of gypsum, sand (silicon) for oil wells, rock for roads and masonry and water wells.
Two more examples: Tourism utilizes STEM. Watonga is a gateway city to six state parks and a National Park Service Historical Site at Cheyenne. The casino and new hotel/conference center in addition to more traditional motels and bed and breakfasts, Cheese Festival, Trail Ride, Ferguson Museum and five other buildings on the National Historical register, and the Walleye and Trout Festivals in our county utilize STEM as part of tourism.
Finally, STEM is essential in healthcare. We are fortunate to have Mercy Hospital and Clinic, The Blaine County Health Dept, Indian Health Service, Dentistry, Optometry, Pharmacy and EMS. These are some reasons it is important that STEM is an essential part of the bond issue vote of February 8.
Joe P. Bryan, MD