Panel: U.S. losing competitive edge in science

The nation's top advisory panel calls for an urgent effort to curb erosion of scientific competitiveness.
The New York Times

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[oceanographer2]

What can one expect when intellegent design is science

This is a country where the scientific process that supports the
principle of evolution is questioned by its politial leaders, there is
not much hope that Republicans that control goverment will really
support this call for action.

The battle is not really science leadership, it is funding education,
not war.

[R. U. Sirius]

Back to the Middle Ages?

>This is a country where the scientific process
>that supports the principle of evolution is
>questioned by its politial leaders

Societies that adhere to strict religious dogma have a common quality: supression of fact. Science deals with fact, not faith.

People would do well to look at some of the "faith-based" societies in the world, where government and religion are deeply intertwined, and ask "do we really want to be anything like that?"

Our science edge will continue to decline

Why should an intelligent person devote his or her life to science and math when so many other careers are so much more rewarding? Corporate America does not give experienced technology workers enough respect. Who has more job security and makes more money? Is it old IT workers, old scientists, old engineers, old bankers, or old insurance salesman? Math and science is valuable only as long as your skills keep up with the flavor of the month. Specialization and market changes can make a top engineer or scientist's skillset effectively obsolete overnight. I have heard too many stories of older scientists, engineers and IT pros that can't find work. Old bankers and insurance salesmen are buying second homes while old engineers are starting over.

intelligent engineering.. the dumbing down of America

ditto the above comments..

Corporate America (through their actions) has taught those of us in industry only too well that we better look out for our selves..

Students starting into college see this and are avoiding engineering and now, IT computer science jobs due to job instability..

The primary decision factor now in deciding an occupation has to be which has the least chance of being outsourced..

There just doesn't seem to be any will in the majority population, and in current elected leaders, to care about the long term economic future of this country, the current debt levels, both private and government..

[jasonschlachter]

intelligent design says it all...

We can't really focus on science and engineering when our government and citizens are undermining these fields by throwing science to the wind for religious purposes. Reminds me of the middle ages.

[SystemsJunky]

Right,

And it also doesnt help that all we can do is sit back and watch as our jobs are sucked up by foreigners in other countries. Or worst, They are coming here, Infiltrating our jobs and our live's. Doenst anyone see this? My freinds company has seen 300% growth in Arab Co-workers that work for half of what he gets paid. And theses companies really think this helps? Maybe in the short term. But long term, its going to bury us. I am not in anyway, shape or form a "Racist" But you dont see these things happening in other countries. Dont you think the easiest way for them to destroy us is by taking over our economics through cheap labor? Sad, everything America has worked for will be lost soon enough...Its a Shame.

[GloballyUniqueMike]

The Real Reason Science Advancement is Tanking

Darwinism is all about innovation occurring by chance while just hanging out and procreating.

But, the lived experience of all of us is that innovation occurs through applied creativity.

Far too many of the "scientists" I know spend their time dreaming up new ways to waste time through entertainment and other diversions.

At the same time, most of the ID advocates I know generate all sorts of useful solutions that enhance productivity and advance our understanding of physical, biological and mathematical processes.

Where to you think advancement is more likely to inhere? In one who thinks mind is an illusion and good behavior an optional social construct, or one who observes that incredible complexity is always the product of a mind and determines to use their own toward that goal?

[Kasar99]

R&D is dead in the US

Engineers and labs are far cheaper to employ overseas. Why is an American working for 2-3 times the wages worth the extra cost?

Multinational companies don't care about anything but the bottom line, and that means no need for American engineers that work for more than a few dollars an hour.

Nobel prizes anyone?

Indian scientists might be cheaper, but when was the last time an Indian scientist won a Nobel? Most ivy league universities in the US have more prize-winners than the whole of India. This comparison, or fear, of losing jobs is misplaced and highly pre-emptive.

I am an Indian. Believe me, we have the same problems the US has. Our institutions are not up to the mark - a few are top notch (IITs/IISc etc) but 90% are just sub-standard. Even the top notch institutes here dont do a fraction of research and innovation that most american universities do. And 1 billion people might sound like a lot, but not when you consider only 4% Indians pay income tax and have to support the other 96%. Where is the money for science? We barely had money to pay our interest payments 15 years ago - we don;t have roads, our trains suck, our airports suck, our ports suck - c'mon, we are a long way away from challenging anyone.

In any case, any threat that India offers is superficial. Check out the latest UK investment reports - India is among the largest investors in the UK. Probable reason - UK is among the most open to offshoring and increased contact with India. Globalization is collaborative, I think this proves it the most.

Indians might be better in general knowledge of math or science on an average, but the number of top people we have in each area are far below critical mass and will be for the next some time - at least till we get hundreds of billions of dollars invested in R&D.

us losing competitive edge in science

well, dozens of reports have been written over the years

what about implementation of all the recommendations of the past?

no more reports! action is necessary

[laloooji]

Who has time

When the entire country talks about a farting horse in a superbowl commercial, who has time for science and Math ? US as a whole suffers from collective ADD

The technological advances thru science and math take decades to achieve. US achieved it through great institutions and best brains coming from all over the world to join the best brains here and more than anything, a desire to excel in education in the early part of this century. When and if any of these are threatened, it is recipe for disaster. It is a very long way to go for US to lose its advantage but unless some steps are taken, it may happen very soon

[Lazyike67]

Quite the opposite.

with Intellegent design in the mix we will be able to explore once forbidden areas.

Here is a much better question.

If you was God, How would you create the universe?
Now in Scientific terms How to open a Dimentional pocket and Terraform a Universe.

Now do YOU know how to open a Dimentional pocket?
What About Terraforming Mars? No?? Why not? Heck why have we NOT built Warp Drives? Teleporters? Cloaking Devices or any other Trek Tech?

Simple we do not know HOW...

ID Will lead to advances in nanotechnology, Space travel, Terraforing, advances in Genetics as well as new theories of Science & Mathmatics.

How closed minded of you to think different.

Then again I'm just another Heretic...

Ike