The Intersection of Sociology and STEM Work

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The speaker discusses the integration of sociology and STEM fields, highlighting the value of sociologists in bringing together different ideas and systems of thought to illuminate social reality uniquely. They express the importance of looking at the big picture and making a meaningful contribution to the understanding of various societal aspects. The conversation delves into the types of jobs STEM graduates pursue, emphasizing that STEM and non-STEM jobs form a continuum rather than a strict binary division. The government categorizes STEM and non-STEM roles separately, aiming for positive outcomes by encouraging individuals to pursue traditional STEM occupations. However, it is noted that expertise in STEM is beneficial in various jobs beyond the conventional science and engineering roles.

Universities and their students are constantly being encouraged to produce more graduates majoring in STEM fields -- science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. That's the kind of training that will get you a rewarding job, students are told, while at the policy level it is emphasized how STEM workers are needed to drive innovation and growth. In his new book Wasted Education, sociologist John Skrentny points out that the post-graduation trajectories of STEM graduates are more likely to involve being chewed up and spit out by the tech economy than to end up with stable long-term careers. We talk about why that's the case and what might be done about it.

Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/02/05/265-john-skrentny-on-how-the-economy-mistreats-stem-workers/

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John Skrentny received his Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University. He is currently Professor of Sociology at UC San Diego, and has previously served as the Co-Director of the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies and Director of the Yankelovich Center for Social Science Research.

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