August 3, 2007

U.S. Colleges Face Pressure to Improve Teaching of Science

Fifty years ago this October, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world's first satellite, unleashing panic in the United States and a frenzy to improve the teaching of science.

Today the alarm is sounding about a new threat: the rising technological prowess of China, India, and other developing nations. In response, Congress is close to unveiling legislation intended to produce more scientists and engineers. While educators disagree over whether more American scientists are, in