3 ms·

Scientist shortage? Maybe not

10 points by ashwinl 17y ago

ashwinl 17y ago
related: GE's CEO, Jeff Immelt recently argued (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124603518881261729.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124603518881261729.html) that an American renewal will come from a culture that celebrates invention over consumption. "Engineering has been underemphasized in this country for a generation. Our high schools fall far short of the mark in science and math. This helps explain why only four percent of American college students have chosen engineering as a profession. At the same time, American companies must reinvigorate their technical efforts…Technology is what makes people and countries feel wealthy… Technology is also the source of competitive advantage. An American renewal will be built on technology. GE’s R&D budget has not been cut. And that’s a course of action I’d recommend to every company that wants to get through the economic crisis even stronger than before."
asdlfj2sd33 17y ago
There is no such thing as "shortages". There may not be enough of something at a price YOU are willing to pay, but that doesn't make it a shortage.
- geebee 17y ago
  The side bar pretty much said as much: "RAND researchers... recommended a permanent commitment to monitoring the USA's science and technology performance, but said the slow growth of U.S.-born technical workers "will change when the earnings and attractiveness of S&E (science and engineering) careers improve."
philwelch 17y ago
"Only problem: We may not have jobs for them all." Bullshit. Engineers and programmers are among the few professions who can create their own jobs, plus some. Where do people think these employers came from in the first place? There's no shortage of opportunities for someone to invent a new product and build a company around it, and inventors are often engineers.
- geebee 17y ago
  I'm just not sure this is the case, and I'm frustrated by it. Many people, maybe even most people, won't start companies. These very same people, incomprehensibly, will study hard and develop amazing talent in engineering or science. They will diligently apply for jobs, but if they can't get one this way, they'll either leave the field or end up in the unemployment stats. But they won't start companies. I don't know why.
  - philwelch 17y ago
    It doesn't help when the whole society is pushing against you. From birth we're the members of institutions, but never the founders of them. And some aren't interested in taking the risk. But enough do it that we carry on.

10 points by ashwinl 17y ago

related: GE's CEO, Jeff Immelt recently argued (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124603518881261729.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124603518881261729.html) that an American renewal will come from a culture that celebrates invention over consumption. "Engineering has been underemphasized in this country for a generation. Our high schools fall far short of the mark in science and math. This helps explain why only four percent of American college students have chosen engineering as a profession. At the same time, American companies must reinvigorate their technical efforts…Technology is what makes people and countries feel wealthy… Technology is also the source of competitive advantage. An American renewal will be built on technology. GE’s R&D budget has not been cut. And that’s a course of action I’d recommend to every company that wants to get through the economic crisis even stronger than before."

asdlfj2sd33 17y ago

There is no such thing as "shortages". There may not be enough of something at a price YOU are willing to pay, but that doesn't make it a shortage.

geebee 17y ago
The side bar pretty much said as much: "RAND researchers... recommended a permanent commitment to monitoring the USA's science and technology performance, but said the slow growth of U.S.-born technical workers "will change when the earnings and attractiveness of S&E (science and engineering) careers improve."

philwelch 17y ago

"Only problem: We may not have jobs for them all." Bullshit. Engineers and programmers are among the few professions who can create their own jobs, plus some. Where do people think these employers came from in the first place? There's no shortage of opportunities for someone to invent a new product and build a company around it, and inventors are often engineers.

geebee 17y ago
I'm just not sure this is the case, and I'm frustrated by it. Many people, maybe even most people, won't start companies. These very same people, incomprehensibly, will study hard and develop amazing talent in engineering or science. They will diligently apply for jobs, but if they can't get one this way, they'll either leave the field or end up in the unemployment stats. But they won't start companies. I don't know why.
- philwelch 17y ago
  It doesn't help when the whole society is pushing against you. From birth we're the members of institutions, but never the founders of them. And some aren't interested in taking the risk. But enough do it that we carry on.