In The News

A Global Challenge: Training Engineers for the 21st Century

November 22, 2013
Experts in science, technology, engineering and mathematics – the so-called STEM fields – help grow economies. Yet interest in these fields is down in the US and Europe. “Within industrialized countries, scientific and technical courses are deemed to be difficult, uninteresting and not competitive in terms of salary expectations,” reports ParisTech Review. An introduction to the essay points out...

The Dilemma of Desperation Migration

Joseph Chamie November 14, 2013
Poverty, conflict and overpopulation have historically forced migrants to pursue opportunity in wealthier nations. Modern migrants have more options for low-cost travel, yet nations have more organized registration, border surveillance and enforcement tools, explains Joseph Chamie, former director of the UN Population Division. Thus, transit countries face new pressures. The desperate in North...

Art and the Asianization of Canada

November 6, 2013
Near half of Canada’s permanent resident immigrants are from China, Philippines, India and Pakistan, and more than half of the nation's international students are from China, India and Korea. The newcomers influence economics, politics, culture, and increasingly Canada’s art scene, reports the Asian Century Institute. Toronto’s East Gallery reflects the Asianization of Canada’s economy, and...

Not Going Abroad and Not Coming Home

Beryl Lieff Benderly August 2, 2013
Asian graduate students and post-doctorate fellows dominate some math and science programs in the West. Attitudes about such cross-border exchanges were analyzed by researchers, working separately, in China and Japan. “Japan needs to send more people abroad to study science, while China needs to do a better job of luring foreign-trained scientists back home,” suggests Beryl Lieff Benderly for...

Would-Be Canadian Citizens Set to Fight Oath to Queen

Jeff Gray July 21, 2013
A group of immigrants seeking Canadian citizenship have gone to court, claiming that the country’s oath for citizenship – requiring “true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors” – is unconstitutional. The oath also requires obeying Canada’s laws and fulfilling citizen duties. The court case undercuts recent Canadian leaders’ efforts to highlight...

Low Fertility Rates – Just a Phase?

Michael S. Teitelbaum, Jay Winter July 9, 2013
The phenomenon of women delaying childbirth and limiting family size to two children or less is gaining traction worldwide. Low fertility rates can deliver prosperity for individuals, but disrupt patterns of economic growth. Some countries compensate for low fertility rates with immigration, which brings its own set of worries. Changing population patterns influence the world in complex ways for...

The Power of Storytelling

Isabella Cota July 5, 2013
Radio – the voices and stories of individuals – wields influence over hearts, minds and community determination. One Central American NGO has found radio to be an excellent tool for spreading anti-trafficking messages throughout the region, reaching those who cannot afford computers and the internet – alerting listeners to the cruel and secretive crime. Thousands of people across Central America...