Dr. Mayim Bialik is straightforward when she talks about science and math education.

In an exclusive interview, The Big Bang Theory actress—and neuroscientist— speaks up about why the United States needs to make science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education a priority.

Bialik sees the importance of STEM education for all students, but especially for young girls who may think such “boy” subjects are not for them. “Math, science, engineering, and technology are for everyone, but there’s this general notion that these are boy fields and girls think, ‘I can’t do this,’ ” she says.

Simply put, The Big Bang Theory actress—and neuroscientist—thinks the United States needs to make science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education a priority, and she’s happy to talk to President Barack Obama about it.

“I think when you look at the statistics of which percentage of jobs will require a background in math and science, it’s about 70 percent,” Bialik says in an interview. “That is speaking to an absolute need for STEM education.”

Bialik sees the importance of STEM education for all students, but especially for young girls who may think such “boy” subjects are not for them.

“Math, science, engineering, and technology are for everyone, but there’s this general notion that these are boy fields and girls think, ‘I can’t do this,’ ” she says. But some kids just need to be taught in a different way.

She confesses that she wasn’t a math or science whiz as child, but a biology tutor ignited her passion for the subjects.

While appearing on the hit 1990s show Blossom, Bialik was introduced to a dental student at UCLA who doubled as a tutor.

“She taught me in a way that I understood concepts,” Bialik says. “She offered practical application and gave me confidence even if I hadn’t been interested before.”

The tutor taught her the creative side of science by having Bialik draw cells repeatedly and create models of science structures. “She had me model it out of Styrofoam,” Bialik says. “She really gave a full portrait instead of simply memorizing.”