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National Academies on U.S. Science

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the holding-on-too-tight dept.

theodp writes to tell us that the National Academies, the nation's 'leading science advisory group', is warning of the continued loss of America's competitive edge with regards to science in the global community. In a press release they call for the immediate increase of teachers and advanced research and development, citing that 'in 2001 U.S. industry spent more on tort litigation than on research and development.' The Committee includes, among others, Intel's Craig 'Don't Call Us Benedict Arnold CEOs' Barrett.

5 of 285 comments (clear)

  1. Re:More investiments are always welcome by Alomex · · Score: 3, Informative

    Last time I looked the US was the 1st on the list of scientific papers published by countries with more than 60% of the papers.

    Then you haven't looked recently. The US is now below 50% of publications in many areas.

  2. Re:Culture is the issue by king-manic · · Score: 4, Informative

    I think the culture argument is mostly baloney, and the state of IP in the US contributes substantially.

    People 'do' science because they find it cool, not because they become rock stars. And there are of course science shows like "Numb3rs" (awful) and "CSI" and "Star Trek" and about a million others that try to some degree to spotlight science. The number of "Adventures in Engineering" or "Women in Engineering" camps has grown considerably over the last 10 years in these parts.

    Actually, highschol culture is a huge reason why more people don't go into the sciences. That and the relatively low pay scales of scientists compared to other professions with similiar training periods.

    --
    "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
  3. Study hard, master your profession, get shit by Simonetta · · Score: 4, Informative

    I can't believe that the CEO of Intel is worried about the loss of US scientific positioning. He does everything possible to drive people OUT of the technical and engineering professions.

        This is the guy who's company insists that you have college degrees and take a drug test before they will even consider you for a temp position working in any technicial position in his company.

        Did I say temp? Goodness me, I meant perma-temp. Work for years as a 'contract' employee with no health insurance, job security, advancement, or benefits.

        Intel sucks. Check out the FACEIntel website for more information. I spent a week at Intel ten years ago. I sure hope that I never have to go back there. Unless you are one of the top twenty people in the world at what you do, Intel is a total dead-end company. And if you are one of the top twenty people in the world in your speciality, why the hell would you want to work at Intel? It's a 'sixth sense' company; already dead but doesn't know it.

    1. Re:Study hard, master your profession, get shit by Colonel+Panic · · Score: 2, Informative

      Intel sucks. I spent a week at Intel ten years ago. I sure hope that I never have to go back there.

      You spent a week at Intel 10 years ago (presumably in one group) and you can difinitively say that it's still like it was then all over the whole company?

      I've been a 'perma-temp' a couple of times there in the last 4 years. There are good groups and there are bad groups. good managers and very bad managers.

      Though I do agree with you that Intel's policies (and the policies of many other tech companies) are driving people out of engineering and driving young people away from even considering engineering. Why bust your rear to get an engineering degree only to have your job sent over seas when you can glide though an easier degree and basically end up about as well off as an engineering major does? The kids aren't dumb.

  4. 33%, not 60% by Dire+Bonobo · · Score: 5, Informative

    > Last time I looked the US was the 1st on the list of scientific
    > papers published by countries with more than 60% of the papers.

    Then you must not have looked since about 1960. As of 2005, the US published only 33% of world science papers, significantly less than the EU (38%) and only half again more than Asia-Pacific (25%). source, more detail

    What's interesting to note is that the EU's share of world publications has increased by almost 20% in the last 20 years (from 32%) and Asia's by almost 100%, but the USA's has fallen by almost 20% (from 40% to 33%).

    In other words, the US has been losing its tech edge for at least the last 20 years.