Quiet Crisis
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Contents |
Overview
An article written by Thomas L Friedman called It's a Flat World, After All explains that 10 events and forces have created a new form of collaboration. This collaboration allows anyone with the expertise and access to the internet the ability to "join the innovation fray". These abilities have created a great number of opportunities for millions of highly educated people from India, China, Taiwan and other countries. With increased investments in infrastructure and foreign markets, the smartest people no longer need to emigrate the U.S. to have a successful career.
Friedman's article quotes Shirley Anne Jackson who states that we are in a “quiet crisis”. This crisis is slowly deteriorating Americas base of scientists and engineers.
Three Gaps causing the Quiet Crisis
The three gaps in American society causing the “quiet crisis” are education, ambition, and workforce numbers. There are a great deal of science and engineering workers who are near the edge of retirement and there are not enough U.S. graduates to fill those positions. In the past companies have relied on the immigration of foreign skilled workers however, due to stricter immigration policies, and the increased opportunities for foreign workers in their native countries there is a shortage of qualified workers. The education gap is not just limited to secondary college education but also extends through Pre-K and High School education. America’s graduating seniors rank among the lowest in math and sciences. Another gap that plagues American society is the ambition gap between American youth and those of developing nations like China and India. The final gap threatening America’s global leadership is the gap between the number of science and engineering graduates in China, India and other developing nations and the U.S. Freidman explains that India graduated 1 million more people then the US and China graduates six times more engineers than the US. If these gaps are not addressed, the U.S. could lose it’s dominant role as the leader in innovation and technology. There are a growing number of countries capable of world class innovation such as Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Ireland and Israel. New forms of collaboration as well as gaps in U.S. education, workforce and ambition threaten to displace the U.S. from it’s leadership position.
Opportunities for Improvement
A study by Building Engineering & Science Talent (BEST) found that minority groups are grossly underrepresented in the field of science and engineering. The research found that white males make up 40% of the total workforce but 70% of the science and engineering workforce. However, white females make up 35% of the total workforce but only 15% of the science and engineering workforce. The numbers are also low for African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and the disabled who make up 24 percent of the population but only 7% of the science and engineering industry.
BEST overcoming the Quiet Crisis
BEST believes that by setting priorities for the industry, education, non-profits, and the federal government, the quiet crisis can be overcome. Some of the recommendations by BEST include the following:
- Best practices research
- Community engagement
- A national strategy
- Increased educational investment
- Strengthening Pre-K through 12 mathematics and science
- Nurture the education of underrepresented groups
- Expand faculty diversity
- Create R&D partnerships with universities and the industry
- Create a culture of inclusiveness in workplace
- Project more positive images of Science Engineering and Technology
- Mobilize grass roots
References
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The Quiet Crisis [online] <http://www.rpi.edu/homepage/quietcrisis/index.html>
Friedman, L Thomas. “ It’s a Flat World, After All.” New York Times 3 April 2005. 21 June 2008 <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/magazine/03DOMINANCE.html?pagewanted=6&_r=1&oref=slogin>.
United States. National Science Foundation. Land of the Plenty 2000. <http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2000/cawmset0409/cawmset_0409.pdf>
Building Engineering Science Talent. Quiet Crisis <http://www.rpi.edu/homepage/quietcrisis/Quiet_Crisis.pdf>