Cape Chamber and STEM Network Team Up on Workforce Development

BARNSTABLE – The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and The Cape Cod Regional STEM Network participated in a global convening of STEM Ecosystems earlier this month.

The event, held this year in Newport Beach, is a bi-annual opportunity for all participating STEM Learning Ecosystems to provide a peer-to-peer professional learning network for communities to share information and expertise.

Bridget Burger, Director of the Cape Cod Regional STEM Network, and Chris Adams, the Chamber’s Chief of Staff and STEM Network Advisory Board member joined representatives from 68 other STEM ecosystems in the US and abroad to share ideas and best practices and advance STEM based education and workforce development.

The STEM Learning Ecosystems Initiative hosts Members of the Community of Practice help shape the agenda for the convenings with access to STEM and cross-sector collaboration experts.

“One of the keys to advancing our future as a Blue Economy is the development of tomorrow’s workforce with the skill sets needed in our marine and ocean science and technology sectors. Engaging with STEM Ecosystems from around the globe will help us with innovative approaches to workforce development,” said Wendy Northcross, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO.

“Chris’ membership on the STEM Network’s Advisory Board underscores the Chamber’s commitment to developing our future workforce by focusing on our local population of talent.”

“STEM education is about critical thinking, problem solving, and making an investment in our future success on every level,” said Chris Adams, the Chamber’s Chief of Staff.

“We are helping the next generation of professionals develop flexible skill sets that prepare them for careers in fields evolving at the speed of technology. This is essential work for chambers of commerce.”

Supported by the Samueli Foundation, the STEM ecosystems initiative is built on over a decade of research into successful STEM collaborations, and seeks to nurture and scale effective science, technology, engineering and math learning opportunities for all young people.