Our Vision Every day, Science is becoming ever more integral to virtually every aspect of our planet’s economy. Accordingly, instilling scientific literacy in our youth today is no longer an advantage; it is pure and simple nothing less than CRITICAL to their success in life. Science literacy is the “price of admission” to the global economy. Without it, their futures are limited. With it, our children can compete with the best in the world! In 2000, ex-astronaut, Senator John Glenn first described the scope of the scientific challenge facing us, and “ From mathematics and the sciences will come the products, services, standard of living, and economic and military security that will sustain us at home and around the world. From them will come the technological creativity American companies need to compete effectively in the global marketplace. “Globalization” has occurred. Economic theories of a few years ago are now a reality. Goods, services, ideas, communication, businesses, industries, finance, investment, and jobs— the good jobs—are increasingly the competitive currency of the international marketplace.” “ Four important and enduring reasons underscore the need for our children to achieve competency in mathematics and science:
But he also gave this none too subtle warning: “ … our children are losing the ability to respond not just to the challenges already presented by the 21st century but to its potential as well. We are failing to capture the interest of our youth for scientific and mathematical ideas. We are not instructing them to the level of competence they will need to live their lives and work at their jobs productively. Perhaps worst of all, we are not challenging their imaginations deeply enough.” Very shortly after, The U.S Commission on National Security for the 21 st Century, co-chaired by senators Gary Hart and Warren Rudman issued their report which included the following “reality check” on the critical importance of a science-literate populace in today’s world: “ Americans are living off the economic and security benefits of the last three generations’ investment in science and education, but now we are consuming capital. Our systems of basic scientific research and education are in serious crisis, while other countries are redoubling their efforts. The quality of the U.S. education system has fallen behind those of scores of other nations. This has occurred at a time when vastly more Americans will have to understand and work competently with science and math on a daily basis. In this commission’s view, the inadequacies of our systems of research and education pose a greater threat to U.S. National security than over the next quarter century than any potential conventional war that we might imagine. American leadership must understand these deficiencies as threats to national security. If we do not invest heavily and wisely in rebuilding these two core strengths, America will be incapable of maintaining it’s global position long into the 21st Century.” Since both those reports were published, two factors have converged to make the need for our children’s education in science even more critical: 9/11, and ongoing advances in global telecommunications.
Report entitled “Roadmap for National Security: Imperative for Change” (February 2001) “ Americans are living off the economic and security benefits of the last three generations’ investment in science and education, but now we are consuming capital. Our systems of basic scientific research and education are in serious crisis, while other countries are redoubling their efforts. The quality of the U.S. education system has fallen behind those of scores of other nations. This has occurred at a time when vastly more Americans will have to understand and work competently with science and math on a daily basis. In this commission’s view, the inadequacies of our systems of research and education pose a greater threat to U.S. National security than over the next quarter century than any potential conventional war that we might imagine. American leadership must understand these deficiencies as threats to national security. If we do not invest heavily and wisely in rebuilding these two core strengths, America will be incapable of maintaining it’s global position long into the 21 st Century.” With decades of experience and contacts the world over, veteran New York Times columnist Thomas The implications of Thomas Friedman’s lucid analysis are clear. If we do not significantly increase the quality and availability of top quality science programs right here, throughout our country, then in very little time the United States could become the low-cost labor back-office to the corporate high-tech leaders in the industrial powerhouses of India and China! In order to do that we need to start at the very beginning of the education system, by creating the conditions that are most likely to engender interest and excitement in science in our children today. And while obviously not every child will grow up to be a scientist, even creating informed, knowledgeable, science-literate members of society with
and
is certainly in our best interests.
THAT is what SEO is all about. |
the degree to which we were not meeting that challenge. This call to arms was in a Report to the President entitled
Friedman, in his 2005 book
