President Obama’s ‘Making Math and Science Cool’ Speech (Nov 23) thinking of it during CES
By Matt at 9 January, 2010, 2:35 am
Some might think this is old news – it is. But someone forwarded me the link earlier today and as it’s the middle of CES, parts of the President’s speech resonated more now than they did almost two months ago. Take a look, especially if you’re wandering the exhibition halls there in Las Vegas, pondering a new career.
Watch the whole of the President’s speech (from Nov 23) and some students demonstrating their robotics
Back in November, the President pushed his education agenda as he honored math and science educators at the White House. Science and tech stars including Sally Ride (America’s first female in space) and the MythBusters were present. In fact the MythBusters were part of an edgy joke from the President made the audience chuckle.
Welcome MythBusters, discovery channel, where are they… I hope you guys left the explosives at home
During the event he announced several new partnerships and programs in a continuation of the “Educate to Innovate” campaign. This campaign is an initiative designed to energize and excite America’s students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
“Despite the importance of education in these subjects, we have to admit we are right now being outpaced by our competitors in other countries,” Obama said.
“One assessment shows that American 15-year-olds now ranked 21st in science and 25th in math when compared to their peers around the world. … That’s not acceptable.”
As the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) reaches it’s it’s midpoint, rewatching the President’s announcement feel’s like it is even more fitting. As we see some great products coming out of the show, let’s think where they were dreamt of, designed and manufactured. In many cases the answer would be by some of the world’s brilliant minds outside the US.
As the President announced a National Lab Day he said it would allow students see the promise of being the makers of things and not just the consumer of things. This is key.
In mentioning an annual science fair at the White House, the President commented:
If you win the NCAA Championships, you come to the White House. Well, if you’re a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement too. Scientists and engineers ought to stand side by side with athletes and entertainers as role models and here at the White house we’re gonna lead by example. We’re gonna show young people how cool science can be.
The President’s speech set up the challenge – for the US to be #1 in math and science by the end of this decade… Almost 2 months have passed since the speech – so what are you waiting for? Let’s get started.
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“If you win the NCAA Championships, you come to the White House. Well, if you’re a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement too.”
Why wasn’t this always the case? We should have recognized years ago that the adoration of performers would lead to people around the world overtaking us in design and production.
I guess we will just have to wait another 200 years until China’s obsessed with Big Brother, Shanghai Housewives or Chinese Idol so that we can out produce them.