National Academies Press: OpenBook

Pan-Organizational Summit on the U.S. Science and Engineering Workforce: Meeting Summary (2003)

Chapter: Position Paper on the U.S. Science & Engineering Workforce

« Previous: Position Paper on the U.S. Science & Engineering Workforce
Suggested Citation:"Position Paper on the U.S. Science & Engineering Workforce." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2003. Pan-Organizational Summit on the U.S. Science and Engineering Workforce: Meeting Summary. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10727.
×
Page 18
Suggested Citation:"Position Paper on the U.S. Science & Engineering Workforce." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2003. Pan-Organizational Summit on the U.S. Science and Engineering Workforce: Meeting Summary. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10727.
×
Page 19
Suggested Citation:"Position Paper on the U.S. Science & Engineering Workforce." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2003. Pan-Organizational Summit on the U.S. Science and Engineering Workforce: Meeting Summary. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10727.
×
Page 20
Suggested Citation:"Position Paper on the U.S. Science & Engineering Workforce." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2003. Pan-Organizational Summit on the U.S. Science and Engineering Workforce: Meeting Summary. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10727.
×
Page 21
Suggested Citation:"Position Paper on the U.S. Science & Engineering Workforce." National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. 2003. Pan-Organizational Summit on the U.S. Science and Engineering Workforce: Meeting Summary. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10727.
×
Page 22

Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.

# ~ ~ ' ~ Shirley M. Malcom, Director Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) Programs American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) INTRODUCTION Founded in 1848, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world's largest federation of scientific and engineering societies, with over 270 affiliated organizations. AAAS members include more than 138,000 scientists, engineers, science educators, policymakers, and interested citizens. AAAS seeks to "advance science and innovation throughout the world for the benefits of all people." To fulfill this mission, the AAAS Board has set the following broad goals: Foster communication among scientists, engineers, and the public · Enhance international cooperation in science and its applications · Promote the responsible conduct and use of science and technology · Foster education in science and technology for everyone · Enhance the science and technology workforce and infrastructure · Increase public understanding and appreciation of science and technology · Strengthen support for the science and technology enterprise Although stated as a separate goal, building and maintaining a strong U.S. science and engineering (SHE) workforce is integral to all the other AAAS goals. Overall, these goals foster lifelong learning skills in research, technology, ethics, communications, and international collaborations. Through our weekly journal, Science, AAAS provides SHE professionals with cutting-edge knowledge and research findings. ~$

MERICAN ASSOCIAHON FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SC~E Today the United States is the world leader in the global S&E enter- prise, but other countries stand ready to challenge this economic strength. One of the main reasons is a shortage of U.S. workers to fill S&E positions. Technically skilled workers on H-1B visas (guest workers) are now mak- ing up for the U.S. worker shortfall. This supply of talent could dwindle in the near future as other nations take steps to increase their own S&E productivity. Add to this the following: · The percentage of white non-Hispanic men in the U.S. workforce is shrinking; this population group represents the majority of the current U.S.S&E workforce. Further educational and employment data indicate that women, African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, and persons with disabilities provide an untapped reservoir of talent that could be used to fill S&E jobs (OSTP, 2000~. · The S&E profession competes with other professions, such as law, medicine, and business, for the "best and the brightest" (Teitelbaum, M., 2001~. · The S&E career path is not fully understood and is often filled with obstacles. A well trained and supported science and technology workforce is essential to the continued vitality of the S&E enterprise and its con- tributions to society. To maintain the quality of that workforce over time requires sustained efforts at all levels, including attention to transition points along the educational and career continuum. To- ward this end, AAAS focuses its efforts on high-quality preparation in science, mathematics, and technology (SMT), as well as recruit- ment and retention of students and professionals in S&E. Strategies include involving experts and stakeholders in the development of tools that guide educational policies, programs, and practices; devel- opment of S&E career resources; and evaluation and research on S&E human resources development. LESSONS LEARNED From studies and policy forums with scientists, educators, policymakers, and students, AAAS staff members have identified factors, along the educational and career continuum, that facilitate or limit pro- gression in S&E. Factors that facilitate progression include: · Taking high-intensity and high-quality SMT high school courses, in- cluding physics, and chemistry, algebra II, and calculus (Adelman, C., 1999)

PAN-~CANIZAHONAL SUMMIT · Pre-college programs that include enhanced SMT courses, college admissions test preparation, and early exposure to S&E research and ca- reer information (Commission on the Advancement of Women and Mi- norities in Science, Engineering and Technology Development, 2000) · Undergraduate academic support programs and peer networks, particularly in calculus, physics, and chemistry (Campbell, G. et al, 2000) · Financial aid that reduces debt burden (Rapoport, A. 1999) · S&E pre-graduate school bridge programs that increase enrollment in doctoral programs (Orfield and Kurlaender, 2001~. Factors that limit progression into S&E careers include: · K-12 educational policies, practices, and allocation of funds that hinder implementation of high-quality K-12 SMT standards, as well as selection of high-quality curriculum and assessment materials · College admissions criteria that do not take into account all assets of applicants (Orfield and Kurlaender, 2001) · The poor quality of science and mathematics education in many teacher preparation programs (National Center for Education and Statis- tics) · High school SMT teaching that often lacks rigor and mentoring to- ward S&E careers · College and university SMT teaching that often does not take into account the learning styles of students, as well as a lack of faculty mentoring toward S&E doctoral careers · Community college SMT curricula that may not be aligned with curricula in bachelor of science degree-granting institutions · Undergraduate SMT curricula that may not have the depth and breadth to prepare students for success in S&E doctoral programs · College and university departmental policies, practices, and cul- tures that may slow degree completion or affect the retention of all stu- dents (especially underrepresented groups) in S&E, particularly for those in pursuit of doctorate degrees and participation in the professoriate (George, Yolanda, et al., 2001) · Institutional policies and practices related to S&E postdoc status, including classifications, compensation, career and professional develop- ment, and duration of postdocs (AAU, 1998~. RECOMMENDATIONS Given lessons learned about education and training, as well as knowl- edge about existing programs to develop and sustain a strong U.S. S&E workforce, AAAS urges all decision makers to coordinate and leverage

MERICAN ASSOCIAHON FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SC~E resources to make sustainable changes in both the S&E workforce prepa- ration and environments in which preparation and work take place. Ef- forts to make any sustainable changes must take into account the complex social, economic, and political forces that have combined in the past to discourage groups such as women, African-Americans, Hispanic Ameri- cans, American Indians, and persons with disabilities from pursuing S&E careers. Specifically, AAAS urges policymakers, government agencies, busi- nesses, educational institutions, labor unions, and professional societies to work collaboratively to support the following: · An increase in attention, resources, and accountability related to S&E career development in existing SMT educational reform programs. Many initiatives are already in place to bring about structural reforms in educational institutions that prepare and train the S&E workforce, includ- ing reforms related to pre-college, undergraduate, and graduate educa- tion, as well as postdoc training and the professoriate. As a part of these reform efforts, greater attention and increased resources must be given to career mentoring and transitions along the S&E education and career con- tinuum, including providing career resources and high school and under- graduate research experiences. · Research on S&E workforce development. While there is a thrust on research on teaching and learning, less attention is being paid to re- search on S&E workforce development. In particular, we need to better understand how to identify, attract, mentor, and retain talent and pro- duce leaders in S&E (AAU, 1998~. In addition, we urge increased federal support for the National Science Foundation to continue to provide edu- cational and employment S&E indicators that are disaggregated by race/ ethnicity and gender and disability, so critical to monitoring the state of the S&E workforce. · Talent development in all S&E disciplines. Due to the integration of research and education in our higher-education institutions, as well as the interdisciplinary nature of research, it is important for the federal re- search budget to support balanced increases in all the sciences. New in- ventions and innovations in health, defense, and technology, as well as in other areas, are codependent on talent development in all the sciences, including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and engineering. REFERENCES AAAS Science and Technology Policy Yearbook 2002. Washington, DC: American Associa- tion for the Advancement of Science.

PAN-~CANIZAHONAL SUMMIT The Association of American Universities, Committee on Postdoctoral Education, Reports and Recommendations. (1998~. Available online: http://www.aau.edu/reports/ PostdocRpt.html. Adelman, Clifford. (1999~. Answers in the tool box: Academic intensity, attendance patterns, and bachelor's degree attainment. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement. Campbell, George Jr., Denes, Ronni, & Morrison, Catherine (eds.~. (2000~. Access denied: Race, ethnicity, and the scientific enterprise. New York: Oxford University Press. Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering and Tech- nology Development. (2000~. Land of plenty: Diversity as America's competitive edge in science, engineering and technology. Arlington, Va.: National Science Foundation. George, Yolanda S., Neale, David, Van Home, Virginia, and Malcom, Shirley M. (2001~. In pursuit of a diverse science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workforce: Rec- ommended research priorities to enhance participation by underrepresented minori- ties. Washington, DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science; and New career paths for students with disabilities: Opportunities in science, technology, engi- neering, and mathematics (2002~. Washington, DC: American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science. Teitelbaum, Michael. (2001~. How we (unintentionally) make science careers unattractive. In Daryl Chubin & Willie Pearson teds.), Scientists and engineers for the new millennium: Renewing the human resource. Washington, DC: Commission on Professionals in Sci- ence and Technology; and Chubin, Daryl E. (2002~. Who is doing science and who will? In Albert Teich, Stephen D. Nelson, & Stephen J. Lita (eds.), National Center for Education and Statistics. Contexts for elementary and secondary educa- tion: International comparison of teacher preparation in 8th grade mathematics and science. Available online: http: / /nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/2001 /section4/ indicator43.asp. Rapoport, Alan I. (1999, April 16~. Does the educational debt burden of science and engi- neering doctorates differ by race/ethnicity and sex? National Science Foundation. Available online: http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/issuebrf/sib99341.htm. U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy. National Science and Technology Council. (2000~. Ensuring a strong U.S. scientific, technical, and engineering workforce in the 21st century. Washington, DC. Orfield, Gary and Kurlaender, Michael. (2001~. Diversity challenged. Cambridge, MA: The Harvard Education Publishing Group.

Next: Statement on Workforce Issues »
Pan-Organizational Summit on the U.S. Science and Engineering Workforce: Meeting Summary Get This Book
×
Buy Paperback | $59.00 Buy Ebook | $47.99
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!
Download Free PDF

Each of 32 nonprofit organizations contributing a presentation to the Pan-Organizational Summit on the Science and Engineering Workforce (November 11-12, 2002; The National Academies, Washington, DC) was invited to issue a corresponding position paper to be reproduced in this volume. The bulk of this report comprises these papers. In addition, Shirley Jackson and Joseph Toole, two of the keynote speakers, have included their remarks.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!