Who Will Do Science?
Educating the Next Generation
Published on 1. November 1994
Book
Hardback
208 pages
978-0-8018-4857-5 (ISBN)
Description
The question "Who will do science?" is one of growing urgency in the United States. Fewer US college students are choosing to study maths, science, and engineering, and half of those who do eventually switch to non-science majors. Moreover, US students do not perform well on science and maths achievements tests or in international competitions. If current trends continue, there will be a serious shortage of qualified candidates to fill the vacancies when scientists trained in the 1950s and 1960s retire. Scholars and policy analysts from a variety of disciplines describe the present demographic situation, analyze the effectiveness of current programmes for recruitment and retention, and examine policies that will improve the education of tomorrow's scientists and engineers. Topics discussed include: the motives of students as they consider careers; the attitudes and influence of parents, teachers, and peers; the challenges faced by women and minorities; and the need for financial support during the lengthy training required to pursue careers in science.
Reviews / Votes
"This excellent collection is a significant and timely contribution to the literature on science education and training for the U.S. workforce. The goal of the volume is to present a comprehensive empirical picture of human resources for science and for U.S. society. It achieves this goal impressively, with historical, methodological, and interpretive aplomb. The scholarship is first rate--it is jargon-free and serves both the novice and the sophisticated reader."--Daryl E. Chubin, National Science Foundation. "These are certainly the right people to write a book such as this--and they have done an exemplary job of recounting their research and analysis clearly and with a focus on policy. The issues of female and minority participation in science raised throughout the volume deserve a place on the national policy agenda."--Edward J. Hackett, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Contributors: Henry Etzkowitz Alan Fechter John Hill Carol Kemelgor Cheryl B. Leggon Shirley M. Malcom Marsha Lakes Matyas Michael Neuschatz Willie Pearson, Jr. Terrence Russell Earl Smith Joyce Tang William Trent Brian Uzzi Betty M. Vetter.More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Baltimore, MD
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
19 illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
420 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8018-4857-5 (9780801848575)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Willie Pearson, Jr., is professor of sociology at Wake Forest University. Alan Fechter is executive director of the Office of Scientific and Engineering Personnel at the National Research Council.