My brother was a scientist and then a Quant, so I know both sides of the story.
The reason is math and science have been dumbed down in the US, in addition to not producing sufficient STEM graduates. So yes, it's a multi-part problem, and some of those parts of generated by State and Federal education agencies.
The remuneration issue for STEM graduates is relatively simple to resolve, however the production of top level STEM graduates who can think creatively and execute on that creativity is much harder.
My brother was a theoretical physics graduate 30 years ago. My kid, is currently a theoretical physics undergraduate. So I've seen a lifetime of high level physics and math, and how it was taught.
If the government wanted to draw more people into STEM, it could make the salaries of STEM workers tax free. That would go a long way to making the lives of STEM workers much more attractive.
The math / science issue at schools and even at university undergrad level is very real. Top level idea generation requires excellence, not equality. Basic R&D isn't process work. Even applied R&D isn't, but its needs a basis on which to work from.
This is a 1990's redux, and it won't be solved any time soon unfortunately.
My brother was a scientist and then a Quant, so I know both sides of the story.
The reason is math and science have been dumbed down in the US, in addition to not producing sufficient STEM graduates. So yes, it's a multi-part problem, and some of those parts of generated by State and Federal education agencies.
The remuneration issue for STEM graduates is relatively simple to resolve, however the production of top level STEM graduates who can think creatively and execute on that creativity is much harder.
My brother was a theoretical physics graduate 30 years ago. My kid, is currently a theoretical physics undergraduate. So I've seen a lifetime of high level physics and math, and how it was taught.
If the government wanted to draw more people into STEM, it could make the salaries of STEM workers tax free. That would go a long way to making the lives of STEM workers much more attractive.
The math / science issue at schools and even at university undergrad level is very real. Top level idea generation requires excellence, not equality. Basic R&D isn't process work. Even applied R&D isn't, but its needs a basis on which to work from.
This is a 1990's redux, and it won't be solved any time soon unfortunately.
Thanks for the conversation, sincerely.