Science, Engineering and the Future of the American Economy

Posted on January 22, 2007  Comments (8)

9 leaders (Craig Barrett, Charles Vest, Scott McNealy, Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande, Judith Rodin, Rick Rashid, Nick Donofrio, Dr. Ralph Wyndrum Jr. and Lou Dobbs) share their thoughts in Keeping Research and Leadership at Home by Vivek Wadhwa:

[several] stress the need to improve K-12 education, encourage students to study more math and engineering, bring in the best and brightest talent from around the world, and up the ante in basic research.

Craig Barrett, Intel chairman – Currently we have lost the race in K-12 education, we are losing our position as a top educator of science, technology, engineering and mathematics students, we are losing our lead in university research, and we have our head in the sand on government policy.

Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande, Sycamore Networks co-founder and chairman – We believe that all of this greatly increases the chances of a particular innovation having impact. Such sophisticated systems can only be developed in the U.S. because it is the only country with both flexible thinking and free markets.

Charles Vest, former president of MIT, president-elect of the National Academy of Engineering – We’re on top, but our share of the world’s R&D spending, new patents, scientific publications, researchers, and BA and PhD. degrees in science and engineering are all dropping. We need to start right now to strengthen investment in basic research, get serious about K-12 education, especially in math and science, and attract more of our best and brightest young men and women into what will be crucial and exciting careers in engineering and science.

In previous posts I discuss my thoughts on the important topics of science, engineering and the economy: The Future is EngineeringScience and Engineering in Global EconomicsEngineering the Future EconomyDiplomacy and Science ResearchEconomics and Science and EngineeringU.S. Slipping on Science

Many people have a mistaken impression of global manufacturing. The most fundamental economic facts of global manufacturing are:

Related: Recapturing R&D LeadershipChina challenges dominance of USA, Europe and JapanBasic Science Research FundingThe World’s Best Research UniversitiesUSA Under-counting Engineering GraduatesEngineers in the WorkplaceChina and USA Basic Science ResearchMyths of Manufacturing Productivity

8 Responses to “Science, Engineering and the Future of the American Economy”

  1. Engineering a Start-up
    February 3rd, 2007 @ 5:44 pm

    […] Great stuff – this is the kind of thing that allows the ingenuity of engineers to benefit the economy and the engineers. […]

  2. Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » USA Losing Brain Drain Benefits
    July 4th, 2007 @ 8:33 am

    “As other locations establish centers that can draw the best minds and capital they will get the benefits the USA has grown to expect.”

  3. CuriousCat: The Importance of Science Education
    October 28th, 2007 @ 9:45 am

    “As I have said before I disagree with those that believe the USA is producing more science and engineering graduates than the market demands. Smart leaders know the huge positive impacts of a large, well educated science and engineering workforce…”

  4. CuriousCat » Engineering Education Study Debate
    November 25th, 2007 @ 11:27 am

    As I have said many times the economic future will be greatly influenced by science and engineering. Those countries that succeed in creating a positive economic climate for science and engineering development will find economic rewards those that fail to do so will suffer…

  5. CuriousCat: Engineering for a Changing World
    December 13th, 2007 @ 10:26 pm

    This interesting and long report (I have not finished reading it yet – 120 pages) has been completed by the President Emeritus of at The University of Michigan (and current University Professor of Science and Engineering)…

  6. Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » Why the World Needs More Engineers
    September 4th, 2009 @ 6:07 pm

    Sir James Dyson: “I have always advocated for investment in engineering – to both improve society and stimulate economies.”

  7. The Politics of Anti-Science » Curious Cat Science Blog
    December 6th, 2011 @ 6:50 pm

    Investing is science and engineering is an extremely wise economic (and cultural) endeavor but it isn’t going to solve all the problems that exist. Somehow today we find ourselves with a large number of politically powerful people we take strong anti-science positions…

  8. Steve Jobs on Quality, Business and Joseph Juran » Curious Cat Management Blog
    March 31st, 2014 @ 8:22 am

    After World War II the USA was able to coast on an economic bubble of extreme wealth compared to the rest of the world for several decades (and the economic success built during that period even still provides great advantages to the USA)…

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