FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla., Aug. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MathAlive!^®, a highly interactive traveling exhibition that has drawn record-breaking crowds, opens Aug. 5 at the Emerald Coast Science Center as part of a 2017 tour to multiple military family communities across the U.S. Presented nationally by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), MathAlive! helps kids have fun with math by showing them its connection to — and influence on — many of the things they love most: music, sports, movies, games and more.

"Today's young people are the innovators of tomorrow," said Pam Erickson, Raytheon Global Brand and Corporate Citizenship vice president. "With hands-on programs such as MathAlive!, Raytheon aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians who will keep our nation strong."

In the U.S., the pipeline of talent needed to fill current and future jobs requiring STEM skills is not adequate to meet the demand, according to an index introduced by Raytheon and U.S. News. The STEM Index is the first comprehensive index to measure key factors relating to STEM jobs and education. The Index finds that although we are making strides in some areas, the U.S. continues to fall short in preparing today's students for tomorrow's innovation workforce. Student aptitude and interest has been mostly flat for more than a decade even as the need for STEM skills continues to grow.

Raytheon's MathMovesU^® educational program is designed to address the STEM workforce gap through initiatives like MathAlive!, scholarships and grants for students, teachers and schools, and partnerships with organizations like the Emerald Coast Science Center.

MathAlive! is on a multi-year tour to science centers and museums across the U.S. and international cities, and is projected to draw millions of visitors in the process. Institutional collaborators for MathAlive! include NASA, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Society of Professional Engineers, the National Engineers Week Foundation, the Society of Women Engineers and MATHCOUNTS^®.

MathAlive! will be presented at the Emerald Coast Science Center through Sept. 10 and is included with general admission. The museum is offering free admittance to active duty military and their families.

About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2016 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 95 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I™ products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter.

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