A new study from Indiana University looks at how and why students become interested in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – known as STEM fields.
Before the survey, researchers thought one event in a young person's life would push them to study those areas.
Adam Maltese, associate professor of science education at IU, says it turns out that's not the case.
"We thought, oh we have to get them interested by third grade and it has to be through science fair," Maltese says, remembering his own reason for studying a STEM field. "There was not that one sort of single thing that we could identify and that was a bit surprising."
Their results indicate that there are many combinations of events that could spark and maintain interest in STEM fields.
Now, Maltese says, they are going to continue STEM field research looking at specific factors like genders, racial and ethnic groups, and countries.