As you all know, I hate what the term "STEM" has become. Let me resummarize my position:
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are distinct fields with their own definitions, traditions and employment needs.
- Because politicians, businesspeople and education professionals simplify when they communicate,
"STEM jobs" is the panacea for the world's economic ills.
(You can really see this now with the term "STEAM", where Arts is trying to get itself some sweet corporate/non-profit cash by hopping on the bandwagon.)
Because I really dislike this obfuscation, I've decided to do what I can to destroy the term "STEM" through the use of humor. I am offering a certificate, a handwritten thank you note, a box of the finest Chemjobber business cards and a bag of hard candies to anyone who comes up with (by acclamation) the best alternate ironic, sarcastic abbreviation* for STEM. A few that I've come up with on my own:
Stupid Terminology Excludes Medicine
Silly Thoughts Engineer Mendacity
Something That Excites Media
Stuff That Engineers Manufacture
Scientist Trends Exclude Money
Nominations/entries all week, I'll pick the 5 top ones next Friday morning and we'll vote then. Enter by e-mail, Twitter, comments on the blog, I'll take it all.
Someone Told 'Em Misinformation
ReplyDeleteSalubrious Toadstools Engender Mirth
Somewhere There's Employment? Maybe?
I like #3 a lot.
DeleteSalaries Terrible, Employment Mediocre
ReplyDeleteI like this one the best.
DeleteSlaves to Employment Misrepresentation
ReplyDeleteHeh.
DeleteMy vote. That's how I feel about my career. One big Trap, working for as**oles.
DeleteFrom the Twitterz:
ReplyDeleteSAO - "Science Takes Educational Misadventure"
Bran van Chemist - "Simple Talk Employing Misuse"
Lori - "Such Tech Engineers Mostly" #doge
Suckers (or Scientists) Trusting Employment Mirages
ReplyDeleteSkeptical The Employment Materializes
ReplyDeleteStocks, Temps, Extortion, Management
ReplyDeleteShould've Tried Executive MBA
ReplyDeleteShould've taken economics, man!
ReplyDeleteSociologists Tormenting Educated Minions
ReplyDeleteFrom Lisa Balbes:
ReplyDeleteSome Times Employees Matter
Special Taglines Enhance Money
Scientific Thinking Engages Minds
Special Thoughts Excite Management
Slogans Terminate Exceptional Mindsets
Simplistic Thinkers Expecting Miracles
ReplyDeleteLots of play in "simple/simplistic." Here's another:
ReplyDeleteSimple-Thinking Economic Moguls
Stop Talking Employment, Moron!
ReplyDeleteHeh.
DeleteSociety of the Theoretically Employable Mules
ReplyDeleteSome Terms Evade Meaning
ReplyDeleteSolely Technology Employment Meaninful
ReplyDeleteActually I think its just your Standard Toxic Economic Meme. So when someone says there is a shortage of STEM, they are really just trying to create more ways to harm the economy. It seems to fit well....
ReplyDeleteSpecious Thinking Exceptionally Magical
ReplyDeleteScratch This Execrable Misinformation
ReplyDeleteSloppy Terminology Expectations Muddle
Suckers That Expected Money
ReplyDeleteShould've Taken Engineering, Man....
Screwed Through Educational Malfeasance
Sorry The Employment's Missing
ReplyDeleteScientific Training Entails Masochism
ReplyDeleteSome Temporary Employment, Maybe?
ReplyDeleteGot another one:
ReplyDeleteSlaves To Egotistical MBAs
Struggle To Evade McJob
ReplyDeleteSeriously? They Expect Money?
ReplyDeleteSure To End Miserably
ReplyDeleteFrom Pig Farmer, via e-mail:
ReplyDeleteShort Term Employment, Mostly
Stop Training Economic Migrants
Such Terrible Economic Mis-management
Sack Those Employees, Mate
Shortage, The Eternal Mantra
Shafting Their Employees Mightily
More from Twitter:
ReplyDelete@KayakPhilip: Souls Taken, Even Mine
Secretly Tormenting English Majors
Situation Terrible Every Month
Still Touting Encyclopedic Memory
Salty Taste Exemplify Margaritas
Silent Treatment Eviscerates Marriages
Striving To Eliminate Mediocrity
@ChemDraw: Several Technophiles Enjoying Macs
@ChemDraw: Steroid Templates Eliminate Mistakes (in #ChemDraw)
@SamMikes: Spelling T'other way Evokes Metastases
@DNAutics: Stop Teasing Eager Minors
@jfreebo: Suspect Terminology Employer Machinations
So Totally Effing Made-up
@Free_Radical1: Surplus Trained: Employer’s Market!
@AgnesJTrow: Scienceshit Takes Endless Money
Science Tu Et Megacorp?
Solely Technology Excluding Majority
Statistics Twisted, Employers Mirthful
ReplyDeleteor perhaps
Statistics Twisted, Employees Mourn
Students (Suckers) Taught Empty Message
Students Training for Eventually, McDonalds