Challenges in science education

The media have lately been focusing a lot on the crisis in education, especially in the area of engineering, science, and math. The problem is serious, its causes plentiful. Since my Viewpoint on “Would you recommend an EE degree to your child?” in May 2004 a lot has changed. At that time, investment in science and mathematics education was stagnant.

I still believe that the government has not made education in science and math its top priority. Luckily many organizations and semiconductor companies have. Some companies sponsor annual science fairs, give grants to students, or encourage their employees to mentor students. Some even support their experienced employees to become science teachers.

One such company is IBM. Its Transition to Teaching program encourages its most experienced employees to become fully accredited teachers in their local communities upon electing to leave the company. This is a great program which can help the shortage of math and science teachers. As of today, more than eight IBM employees have completed their teacher certification and are already teaching. I can only hope more companies will follow IBM’s example.

Organizations such as IEEE also support initiatives to expose kids to engineering and technology. Tryengineering.org is a Web site created by IBM and IEEE that encourages kids, parents, and teachers to ask experts any engineering questions they may have.

Some organizations also encourage their members to volunteer at science fairs. The Society of Women Engineers (www.swe.org) introduced me to the Tri-County Science Fair, at which I have been volunteering annually for the past five years. For the past three years, I have also been volunteering at the Brookhaven National Labs science fair. It is such an honor for me to use my engineering skills to introduce a child to science projects.

We can all help within our communities to strengthen K-12 science education by challenging our children to excel. We need to help them embrace science and math rather than fear those subjects. So instead of buying them that electronic game this summer, expose your children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews to the science field by trying a science project from www.hobbyengineering.com. This is a supply store for people who want to build robots, electronic gadgets, kinetic art, or anything else that moves, beeps, or flashes.

I am convinced that we all, including trade publications, such as Electronic Products , have a positive role to play. When we in the media reinforce the interdependence of science, society, and the economy, we help redirect the discussion of science education in our country. All children deserve to and should learn about and join in the high-tech revolution that’s underway.

Christina Nickolas