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It was a meeting of the minds Wednesday as science, technology math and engineering or STEM leaders went online with students from around the world. Time Warner Cable sponsored the global townhall called "Math, Science and the Future of Our Nation," hosted by former Vice President Al Gore.

"Eighty percent of the jobs created in the next decade will require some form of math and science skills and yet the trends clearly show that young people in America today are not yet prepared to take on these challenges," Gore told participants.

The specialized K-12 public school, New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math or NEST+M on the Lower East Side, organized a viewing party for its students who tuned into the live interactive discussion. One of its sophomores, Stephen Koh, participated in the conversation which featured U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and astronaut Sally Ride among others.

The event focused on making STEM a top priority for American students.

"I'm still a kid. I'm still worried about younger people who are younger than me what their future could be like what better it could be if we introduce new programs and all this kind of things to them that have to do with science and math and all this stem stuff," said NEST+M Student Omar Yusuf.

Once the global discussion ended the conversation continued at the local level across 15 Time Warner Cable markets in the country.

At NEST+M, NY1 technology reporter Adam Balkin moderated a panel with STEM experts including Philippe Cousteau, the chief spokesperson for Environmental Education for Discovery Education.

The challenges that we are facing as a global community require innovation. They require technology and they require a new generation of Americans that will rise up and establish and find those solutions," Cousteau said.

Students who spoke with NY1 say making science and math more hands-on will help to make these vital fields more attractive.

"I'm really interested in fashion and what I noticed is that cutting patterns, designing, math plays a huge role in how you design and so it's important to show students that math isn't about memorizing equations, it's used out there and it's used to make your dreams come true," said NEST+M Student Ruby Redstone.

For more on programs that engage students in science, technology, engineering and math, visit Time Warner Cable's corporate web site that promotes such activities at www.ConnectAMillionMinds.com.