Marvel Comic Covers to Promote STEM Careers

A series of Marvel Comics coming in November will feature covers that highlight superheroes engaged in STEM activities… except that, being comic book artists,* they added Art to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. That makes it STEAM.

Marvel heroes are no strangers to science. Characters like Bruce Banner, Peter Parker, Reed Richards and many more all have ties in science as either part-time, or full-time, scientists. Keeping with their science-based roots, Marvel's latest crop of characters are engaging in the science fun as well.

In an attempt to spark interest in math and the sciences amongst readers, Marvel will introduce STEAM variant covers. Each cover will represent one of the themes relating to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. The education-themed Marvel covers will hit stands November 2016.

All but the Engineering cover (featuring Iron Man) can be seen at Popular Science. -via Gamma Squad

* Axists tells us STEAM is commonly used, but that was news to me. Thanks!

They didn't "add art" because they are comic book artists. STEAM is a common variation. Why? STE(A)M is about creative problem solving. The skills that are proving critical in 21st Century teaching and learning - the skills that are helping people be successful in science, technology, engineering and math, are skills native to arts education. The 'A' isn't included because it's a comic book. The 'A' is included because these five disciplines all grow from one body of skills.

STEAM is commonly used - though not as common as STEM - and it's important to know that it's not an add-on. Arts education can have a powerful, life-long impact on students, most of whom will not become artists. But we're not teaching them to be artists. We're teaching them to become stronger people.

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