Top Advisory Panel Warns of an Erosion of the U.S. Competitive Edge in Science

Is the US losing the ability to compete globally in the areas of science and technology? Experts convened on October 12 under the auspices of the National Academies, the nation’s premier science advisory body, to answer this pressing question. Sponsored by a bipartisan group in Congress, the panel announced that without a substantial effort to address the issue, the US “could soon loose its privileged position” as a global leader in science and technology. As scientific and industrial expertise increases abroad, the US must invest in education and jobs for a new class of engineers, teachers and researchers that can match the contributions of counterparts in countries like China and India. In the current age of globalization, the report said, "workers in virtually every sector must now face competitors who live just a mouse-click away in Ireland, Finland, China, India or dozens of other nations whose economies are growing." The fields of science and technology are no different. The panel’s avowed goal was the creation of high-quality jobs through the development of new industries and sources of energy built upon the work of scientists and engineers. The US can achieve this goal by strengthening teaching, education and research as well as by making it easier for talented foreigners to land jobs in the US and establish lives here. It will be costly to truly reinvigorate US science and technology, but failing to see such rejuvenation as a priority would undeniably be more detrimental. – YaleGlobal

Top Advisory Panel Warns of an Erosion of the U.S. Competitive Edge in Science

William J. Broad
Thursday, October 13, 2005

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