American Chemical Society and the Research Corporation for Science Advancement hosts March 14 Capitol Hill Briefing: STEM Education for an Innovative Workforce

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29, 2012 — The American Chemical Society (ACS) Science & the Congress Project invites news media to attend a luncheon briefing on “STEM Education for an Innovative Workforce.” It will be held Wednesday, March 14, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Russell Senate Office Building 325. Please RSVP to http://tinyurl.com/ACSSciCongr-RCSASTEM.

The briefing is co-hosted by the American Chemical Society Science & the Congress Project and Research Corporation for Science Advancement, in its Centennial Year, with honorary co-host the Senate Science & Technology Caucus.

College graduates with undergraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects have a much greater chance of finding a job, and one that pays better than many opportunities. However, the United States ranks near the bottom among 29 developed countries in producing STEM graduates. Only 15 to 17 percent of all bachelor’s degrees are awarded in STEM subjects, with this trend continuing despite rising enrollment in STEM majors. Surveys in 2005 indicate that 50 percent of students who begin studies in biology, physical sciences and mathematics leave these fields before completing their senior year. With scientific innovation essential to economic success and global competitiveness, the United States must bolster its workforce with more STEM graduates. Recently, American universities and the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) recommended new methods to improve undergraduate STEM education to produce a more science savvy workforce. This panel will discuss federal policies needed to translate these recommendations to economic growth. The briefing will feature the following panelists and an open discussion:

Welcome: Madeleine Jacobs, Executive Director and CEO, American Chemical Society

Moderator: James Gentile, Ph.D., President, Research Corporation for Science Advancement

Panelists:

• Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D., President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Hunter Rawlings III, Ph.D., President, Association of American Universities
• Bassam Shakhashiri, Ph.D., 2012 President, American Chemical Society

The Science & the Congress Project was established in 1995 to provide a neutral and credible source of scientific information targeted to policymakers on Capitol Hill. Expert speakers are chosen to provide a balanced presentation about the topic under discussion, and their comments are independent of any position that may be held by the ACS, the sponsors of Science & the Congress, or its co-hosts. For more information, visit www.acs.org/science_congress.

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