U.S. Slipping on Science

Posted on March 27, 2006 10 Comments

U.S. Slipping on Science by John Aloysius Farrell, Denver Post:

As recently as 1970, Freeman discovered, more than half the world’s science and engineering doctorates were granted by U.S. universities. And China produced almost no scientific Ph.D.s.
But by 2001, the European Union was graduating more scientists and engineers than the U.S. — and Asia about as many.

There has been a Science gap between the United States and the rest of the world. That gap has been between the USA, in the lead, and the rest. That gap has been shrinking for at least 10 years and most likely closer to 20. The rate of the decline in that gap has been increasing and that seems likely to continue.

The question now, is to what extent the US relinquishes that past scientific leadership. The answer will have large economic consequences. And that answer is defined by action not wishes. If the US wants to remain in the mix with others looking to lead scientific advances in the next 50 years then policies will have to change and resources will have to be re-directed (money will have to be spent).

The recent Duke University study, USA Under-counting Engineering Graduates, has important details on the comparison between India, China and the USA on science and engineering education.

We have discussed these ideas many times in previous posts:

And many more – see posts on science and the economy, science and technology higher education and engineering.