The U.S. Department of Education said this about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math):

The United States has developed as a global leader, in large part, through the genius and hard work of its scientists, engineers, and innovators. In a world that’s becoming increasingly complex, where success is driven not only by what you know, but by what you can do with what you know, it’s more important than ever for our youth to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and make sense of information. These are the types of skills that students learn by studying science, technology, engineering, and math—subjects collectively known as STEM.

The primary focus of STEM is to inspire students to become proficient in one or more areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. For many people, this becomes a way of life. RC Modelers have an opportunity to demonstrate their STEM skills and utilize the STEM capabilities of the manufacturers of our model aircraft that use new materials, manufacturing processes, and designs. Modifying or building all or parts of our aircraft using proven or newly developed concepts is aided by STEM education.

RC modelers have the opportunity to program new functions or combinations of functions into their model control systems. New designs or old designs utilizing new materials, fasteners, adhesives, or advanced electronics such as gyros, telelmetry, and First Person View are utilized in many of todays models.

Many concepts developed in full scale aircraft have been adapted to models and vise-versa. STEM provides modelers with the knowledge of how to do this successfully. Modelers also discover that some model airplanes have different flight characteristics, are more or less robust, require different preparation if flown off water with floats, fly high with thermal lift, fly faster around pylons, or just perform more predictably. These characteristics are all explained and easier understood by STEM education.