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About one-third of
all jobs in the United States require science or technology
competency, but currently only 17 percent of Americans graduate with
science or technology majors … in China, fully 52 percent of college
degrees awarded are in science and technology. (William R.
Brody, president of Johns Hopkins University, Congressional
testimony 7/05)
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Only 11 percent of
bachelor’s degrees in the United States are in the sciences or
engineering, compared with 23 percent in the rest of the world and
50 percent in China. (National Summit on Competitiveness 12/05)
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China graduates
about 500,000 engineers per year, while India produces 200,000 and
the United States turns out a mere 70,000. (National Academy of
Sciences: “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” 10/05)
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The United States
in 1970 produced more than half of the world’s Ph.D.s. But if
patterns continue, it will be lucky to produce 15 percent of the
world’s doctorates by 2010. (National Bureau of Economic
Research 5/05)
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45% of new U.S.
patents are granted now to foreigners. (Education Week “A Quiet
Crisis is Clouding the Future of R&D” 5/25/05)
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Only three of the
top 10 recipients of U.S. patents in 2003 were American companies.
(National Academy of Sciences: “Rising Above the Gathering Storm”
10/05)
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In
the fourth grade, U.S. students score above the international
average in math and near first in science. At eighth grade, they
score below average in math, and only slightly above average in
science. By 12th grade, U.S. students are near the
bottom of a 49-country survey in both math and science, outscoring
only Cyprus and South Africa. (William R. Brody, president of
Johns Hopkins University, Congressional testimony 7/05)
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Less than 15
percent of U.S. students have the prerequisites even to pursue
scientific or technical degrees in college. (William R. Brody,
president of Johns Hopkins University, Congressional testimony 7/05)
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The number of
students in the United States planning to pursue engineering degrees
declined by one-third between 1992 and 2002. (The Business
Roundtable 7/05)
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88% of high school
dropouts had passing grades, but dropped out due to boredom. (Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation: “The Silent Epidemic” 3/06 )
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Up to 20 percent of
high school dropouts test in the gifted range. (Handbook for
Gifted Education, 2003)
