Action C-1: Increase the number and proportion of US citizens who earn bachelor’s degrees in the physical sciences, the life sciences, engineering, and mathematics by providing 25,000 new 4-year competitive undergraduate scholarships each year to US citizens attending US institutions. The Undergraduate Scholar Awards in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (USA-STEM) would be distributed to states on the basis of the size of their congressional delegations and awarded on the basis of national examinations. An award would provide up to $20,000 annually for tuition and fees.

Action C-2: Increase the number of US citizens pursuing graduate study in “areas of national need” by funding 5,000 new graduate fellowships each year. NSF should administer the program and draw on the advice of other federal research agencies to define national needs. The focus on national needs is important both to ensure an adequate supply of doctoral scientists and engineers and to ensure that there are appropriate employment opportunities for students once they receive their degrees. Portable fellowships would provide a stipend of $30,000⁷ annually directly to students, who would choose where to pursue graduate studies instead of being required to follow faculty research grants, and up to $20,000 annually for tuition and fees.

Action C-3: Provide a federal tax credit to encourage employers to make continuing education available (either internally or through colleges and universities) to practicing scientists and engineers. These incentives would promote career-long learning to keep the workforce productive in an environment of rapidly evolving scientific and engineering discoveries and technological advances and would allow for retraining to meet new demands of the job market.

Action C-4: Continue to improve visa processing for international students and scholars to provide less complex procedures and continue to make improvements on such issues as visa categories and duration, travel for

Front Matter (R1-R26)

Executive Summary (1-22)

1 A Disturbing Mosaic (23-40)

2 Why Are Science and Technology Critical to America's Prosperity in the 21st Century? (41-67)

3 How Is America Doing Now in Science and Technology? (68-106)

4 Method (107-111)

5 What Actions Should America Take in K–12 Science and Mathematics Education to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century? (112-135)

6 What Actions Should America Take in Science and Engineering Research to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century? (136-161)

7 What Actions Should America Take in Science and Engineering Higher Education to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century? (162-181)

8 What Actions Should America Take in Economic and Technology Policy to Remain Prosperous in the 21st Century? (182-203)

9 What Might Life in the United States Be Like if It Is Not Competitive in Science and Technology? (204-224)

Appendix A Committee and Professional Staff Biographic Information (225-240)

Appendix B Statement of Task and Congressional Correspondence (241-248)

Appendix C Focus-Group Sessions (249-300)

Appendix D Issue Briefs (301-302)

K–12 Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education (303-324)

Attracting the Most Able US Students to Science and Engineering (325-341)

Undergraduate, Graduate, and Postgraduate Education in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (342-356)

Implications of Changes in the Financing of Public Higher Education (357-376)

International Students and Researchers in the United States (377-396)

Achieving Balance and Adequacy in Federal Science and Technology Funding (397-414)

The Productivity of Scientific and Technological Research (415-422)

Investing in High-Risk and Breakthrough Research (423-431)

Ensuring That the United States Is at the Forefront in Critical Fields of Science and Technology (432-443)

Understanding Trends in Science and Technology Critical to US Prosperity (444-454)

Ensuring That the United States Has the Best Environment for Innovation (455-472)

Scientific Communication and Security (473-482)

Science and Technology Issues in National and Homeland Security (483-500)

Appendix E Estimated Recommendation Cost Tables (501-512)

Appendix F K–12 Education Recommendations Supplementary Information (513-516)

Appendix G Bibliography (517-536)

Index (537-564)