The demand for science, technology, engineering and mathematics talent, also called STEM, is rising rapidly in Nebraska. STEM jobs are expected to grow 5.6% within the next decade, compared to the national average of 2.8%. Omaha STEM Ecosystem is an organization that looks to connect STEM students to businesses looking to hire, as well as provide opportunities for experienced professionals to hear from the experts in various fields.
Hannah Bergdolt, the Marketing Communications Coordinator at Omaha STEM, said in the next 10 years, Omaha companies will have a need for a larger STEM workforce.
“I think like commitment between our partners and all of our sponsors… they really have a need to see those STEM professionals growing,” Bergdolt said. “And I think we see that with the numbers and the stats there, too.”
Omaha STEM Ecosystem started in 2016, and Bergdolt said she is curious whether she will start to see students from the early years coming back as the professionals looking to find new talent.
One such event, held at MCL Construction in Omaha on Tuesday, focused on AI and its growth. Brant Yantzer, the Director of Integration at MCL, said during his introductory remarks that he sees a crucial connection between the needs of the industry and educational opportunities.
“We want education, understand the needs of industry, and what we’re living with, what we’re doing,” Yantzer said. “So the other side is, on the education side, you get to start understanding where things are going, what’s going to be expected, how things are evolving.”
The University of Nebraska-Omaha Dean of the College of Information Science & Technology, Dr. Martha Garcia Murillo, was the keynote speaker. She spoke to a near full room of industry professionals and students about the nuances of AI.
“I want you to realize all of the different things that can be done with AI in different sectors,” Garcia Murillo said. “Now you might wonder, why is it that I’m interested not only in education, which is the place where I live, but also, you know, agriculture or manufacture or anything like that…There are people from many different industries here, and I want it to be as relevant as possible for as many of you.”
The main theme of her talk was that AI can be a useful tool, but overreliance on it can be harmful.
After her presentation, Garcia Murillo fielded questions from the crowd, ranging from a question about the effects AI has on mental health from a healthcare professional to a question on who takes liability when AI leads to human harm.
Omaha STEM Ecosystem has four events planned for this year and already has four planned for next year. More information can found on the organization’s website.
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