Michigan State University researchers presented recently about the topic, “Tomorrow’s Scientists and Engineers,” at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  As you know the Obama Administration has increased the focus for STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics or Medicine) careers.

“Failure to build and maintain a competitive scientific workforce in the decades ahead,” Dr. Jon Miller said, “will inevitably lead to a decline in the American standard of living.”  Dr. Miller kept track of nearly 6,000 middle school students through college.  His attempt was to determine what led them to or guided them away from a STEMM career.  “Only 4% of students who experienced low parent encouragement to attend college planned to enter a post-secondary program and major in a STEMM field,” he said.  “This compares to 41% of students whose parents strongly encouraged college attendance.”

Sons are more likely than daughters to do well in science and math.  Another interesting fact is that 27% of children whose parents attended college were more likely to enter a STEMM career versus 18% of children whose parents had a high school diploma.  Mathematics is the main gateway to a STEMM career beginning with the algebra track placement in seventh and eighth grades.

Source: Science Daily, February 21, 2010.