Post by Travis T. York, Ph.D.

This morning, AAAS published a new thought piece that my colleague Stephanie Rodriguez, Ph.D., and I have been working on for the past several weeks. Our central argument is simple: America doesn't have a talent problem nearly as much as it has a connection problem. Every day, talented students, workers, educators, employers, and communities navigate systems that too often operate in isolation. We invest heavily in education, workforce development, and research—but we rarely invest enough in connecting them into coherent pathways that help people discover opportunities, develop their skills, and contribute to our nation's scientific and economic future. If we're serious about strengthening the U.S. STEMM workforce, we need to move beyond isolated programs and begin designing systems that work together. This piece reflects many of the conversations we've been having through the STEMM Opportunity Alliance and across the AAAS Center for STEMM Education & Workforce about what it will take to build a stronger, more connected talent ecosystem. I'd love to hear what resonates with you—and where you think our systems are still falling short. Please give it a read, and if you find the ideas valuable, I'd appreciate you sharing it with your networks. 📰 Read the article: America Has the Talent. Its Systems Need Better Connections https://lnkd.in/eMfKVWxt #STEMM #WorkforceDevelopment #HigherEducation #SciencePolicy #FutureOfWork #SystemsChange #Innovation