In a world of globally linked, rapidly changing economic opportunities, America's workforce must be able to fluently adapt to new knowledge, skills, and tools to operate across geographic and professional boundaries. NSF works with public and private sector partners to help prepare students and professionals for lifelong innovation and productivity. These cooperative efforts help to ensure that America's science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce excels in the global economy, and that the STEM workforce is representative of the entire population. With a diversity of perspectives, we can better address local, national and global needs in areas such as health care, energy, national security, climate change, and the environment. The Highlights below offer examples of NSF funded projects that have made a difference.