*Brussels, 22 April 2016 – The first STEM Discovery Week starts today in classrooms across Europe. Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths teachers along with industry and education professionals will organise a series of online and face-to-face activities with the support of the STEM Alliance partners namely organisations such as European Schoolnet and CSR Europe as well as industry partners: Amgen, Cisco, Dassault Systèmes, EPCA, IBM, La Caixa, Lego Education, Lenovo, Microsoft, Shell and Texas Instruments.* The annual STEM Discovery Week focuses on raising awareness of STEM teachers, career counsellors and professionals of the various STEM career paths existing in the industry and other sectors. In addition, the campaign highlights the opportunities offer to teachers to learn methods and practice to teach STEM in a more attractive way, linked to real live examples, using industry practices. “We need motivated, properly trained, well-equipped science teachers to prepare and inspire the next generation of researchers and innovators in Europe”, explains Marc Durando, the executive director of European Schoolnet, a network of 31 European Ministries of Education. The continued substantial shortage of STEM skilled workers and STEM teachers seriously jeopardizes the success of the European economy and its education systems. The STEM Alliance was established in November 2015 to tackle those fundamental societal issues with the support of industry partners and Ministries of Education across Europe. During the STEM Discovery Week, STEM education stakeholders from private and public sectors can get involved & support the STEM Alliance and organise their own STEM event. In addition, schools can participate to the STEM4YOU competition, the first competition organised by the STEM Alliance. They are invited to challenge the classrooms and organise a STEM Discovery event with exciting and special activities or create a video to explain why STEM careers and studies matter. During the STEM Discovery Week, schools can also engage in European online events. The STEM Alliance will host its first webinar on careers as well as its very first Community of Practice – online event consisting of moderated forums – on the key topic of the impact of STEM teaching on student’ motivation and attainment in these fields. EPCA (The European Petrochemical Association) has produced 3 education films: “Chemistry: All about you”, “Science: Where can it take you?” & “Petro and Chemistry: Partnership for a Better Life” as well as role model films of people from within its membership, showcasing what it is like to work for an industry like ours. These films will be promoted during the STEM Discovery Week. EPCA will also launch the first of 9 national finals of the European Youth Debating Competition (EYDC.eu) in Zagreb, Croatia (29th April 2016). Young students aged 16 to 19 will get the chance to debate on chemistry related issues around the overarching theme “50 years of chemical industry. What’s next?” The debates will all follow the same standardized formula at national and European level. The national competitions will then be held in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom with a grand finale to be held in Budapest in early October 2016, at the 50th EPCA Anniversary Annual Meeting. “We want to open up a constructive dialogue with the decision makers of tomorrow“, explains Cathy Demeestere, CEO of EPCA, “showing the openness of the chemical business community whilst promoting the chemical industry as a good industry to work for. STEM education is an excellent starting point for challenging careers for girls and boys all over the globe“ *Further information:* - Follow #STEMDiscoveryWeek on Twitter for live activities and announcements during the week - Website: http://www.stemalliance.eu/stem-week-2016