Why Port Discovery's New Exhibit Will Boost our Economy, Security

Yesterday morning, I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch of an exciting new exhibit at Port Discovery in Baltimore – which, by the way, was recently ranked among the top 12 children’s museums in the country!

The new exhibit, called “NanoFabulous,” will help kids and their families understand how scientists and engineers discover and invent new materials from nanoscale building-blocks. It was developed by the talented students and professors at the University of Maryland College Park’s Materials Research Science & Engineering Center and is part of Port Discovery’s ever-expanding STEM initiative. I had a great time checking out the new exhibit with the third graders from Riverdale Baptist Church in Upper Marlboro.

As Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee, I see science, technology, math and engineering (STEM) education as a matter of both our national security and economy. Maryland has the best schools in the nation, but we aren’t producing enough scientists, engineers and mathematicians to fill our workforce needs. The same goes for the rest of the country. We produce only 4 percent of the world’s engineers. China produces 34 percent.

Museums like Port Discovery let young people experience the excitement of discovery at an early age. Hopefully, it will foster an early and life-long love of science and technology that will lead to prosperous careers in the STEM field – strengthening our economy and security.