Opinion - Whatcom View

POSTED: Tuesday, Aug. 04, 2009

Time to push science, math and technology education

Now, more than ever, science, technology and mathematics need to be at the forefront of what we as a society deem to be important as we educate our young people, from grade school through graduate school. In sports terms, we used to be the dominant team; if this were a sports competition the odds makers might not give us a chance.

As we focus more on design and innovation to stimulate our economy, our science and technology graduates need to be the leaders, the innovators at the forefront of creating and pushing new ideas and concepts.

One of the best ways to revive our dominance in science and technology is to invest more in brain power before we are eclipsed by the technology giants of Asia.

Recent numbers show that for every science and technology graduate in this country, India and China combined produce 10. Clearly, we can never produce more graduates; but what we can do - what we must do if we wish to remain leaders - is maintain our qualitative edge. Our graduates must be the leaders in modern science and technology innovation, not just among the vast, milling throng of followers.

How can we accomplish this?

First, our universities must grow their outreach programs to reach the potential members of the next generation of scientists and engineers, particularly women and minorities, early on and keep them involved as they advance through the K-12 system. At Western Washington University we are reaching out to our youngest future scientists and technology leaders through such efforts as our "Science and the univerCity" and "Wizards@Western" public presentation programs. These are important first steps, but we as a society need to do more.

Next, our K-12 system could benefit from an infusion of talent from outside the schools themselves; a service corps of retired science teachers, scientists, engineers and innovators who can assist, in an extracurricular fashion, in shaping these young minds toward the promise that scientific fields of study hold. Boosting volunteerism in the science education process, through help in schools and organizations like the American Museum of Radio and Electricity cannot be underestimated as a potential influencer of this country's future technological growth.

In addition, our underfunded K-12 system must be provided with at least the bare necessities to move these fledgling scientists along. Too many school districts are finding themselves unable to even purchase science text books for their students - this country cannot expect to lead the world in science and technology innovation if its students don't have the basic learning materials.

Higher education must continue to build more partnerships with the private sector to encourage experiential student learning off campus, in the technology and science-driven fields into which they will soon graduate. Bringing together the best minds in academia and in the private sector can become a linchpin of our new evolving knowledge-based economy, here in Whatcom County and in our state and nation. Western, across several departments and with help from the Technology Alliance Group, is actively working with area industries on projects such as new applications of composite materials and approaches to developing cleaner fuels. Western's work with Bellingham's All American Marine to design and construct a lightweight carbon-fiber hydrofoil for a new passenger ferry as the first project in the Port of Bellingham, WWU and BTC-operated Technology Development Center is a good example of this type of partnership.

Lastly, we as a nation must continue to be leaders and not followers in the pursuit of green and sustainable technology and industry as our future, and build a science and technology education system that keeps this focus in mind.

Innovation is going to happen. Will Team USA be a winner or a loser?

Arlan Norman is the dean of Western Washington University's College of Sciences and Technology and a board member for the Washington Technology Center, the American Museum of Radio and Electricity and the Technology Alliance Group (TAG).