|
|
|
|
Sept
09, 2002
|
an
online newsletter for and by NOAA employees
|
|
“Who will do science,” asked Dr. Willie Pearson, Jr. as he addressed about 40 NOAA staff a few weeks ago at Southeast Regional Fisheries headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida. He says the fields of science and technology may be headed for a crisis, and that if trends continue, the U.S. may lose its technological edge in science and engineering. While NOAA is reaching out to stimulate scientific interests among youth in multiple directions, the commitment must be far-reaching. Dr. Pearson’s presentation was sponsored by Southeast Regional Fisheries’ EEO Advisory Committee. He chairs the School of History, Technology and Society at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He also chairs the Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy for the American Association for the Advancement of Science and serves as vice chair of the National Science Foundation’s Committee on Equal Opportunity in Science.  Dr. Willie Pearson, Jr. (fifth from left) is flanked by EEO Advisory Committee members (from left) Mark Godcharles, Bob Sadler, Pete Eldridge, Teletha Griffin (chair) and Joyce Mochrie. Regina James, of the Central Administrative Support Center, also attended Dr. Pearson's presentation. “We’re encouraged that more women than ever appear to be earning undergraduate degrees in science and engineering but a relative few complete their doctorate,” he said. He also expressed disappointment that, although there has been a notable increase in the number of minority students enrolled in science and engineering programs, relatively few obtain advanced degrees. “One of the most alarming trends we’ve seen at our institutions of higher learning is that the top U.S. science and engineering programs are dominated by students from other nations. In some critical fields, as many as 60 to 70 percent of all Ph.D candidates are foreign-born. Many of these students are returning to their homelands and establishing science and engineering programs that will one day rival America’s.” Dr. Pearson concluded that government, industry, and institutions throughout the nation must aggressive pursue a course that will attract more women and minority students to scientific and engineering careers. He emphasized how critical this is if the U.S. and numerous industries are to sustain their positions as global leaders in technological innovation.  Gary Petrae (left), acting deputy regional administrator, presented a NOAA Fisheries shirt to Dr. Pearson. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
