Interest in STEM Careers of Students from Public High Schools in an Emerging Economy

The importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers and its role in scientific and technological progress, for economic development in the region, promoted the interest of technological dissemination sessions aimed at prospective students at the Polytechnic University of Baja California in the city of Mexicali, Baja California.A group of 2,154 students from 20 different institutions of public high school education answered a survey designed as an evaluation tool for a career path or technology area of interest.The survey results show that students have a low preference for STEM careers.Moreover, these results were augmented with an additional study on the academic interest of students by gender in the city of Mexicali, Baja California, also conducted by the authors.It raises the importance of teaching science in the early education levels, which aims to prepare scientists and technologists needed for the development of research and innovation as a foundation for economic prosperity and welfare of an emerging economy such as Mexico.