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ERIC Number: ED502063
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Apr
Pages: 16
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
STEM Professions: Opportunities and Challenges for Latinos in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. A Review of Literature
Taningco, Maria Teresa V.; Mathew, Ann Bessie; Pachon, Harry P.
Tomas Rivera Policy Institute
Although the United States has the best innovation ecosystem in the world, according to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), American students have weak math and science skills compared with those in the rest of the world. Even students at the top tier pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at lower rates in the U.S. than in other countries, and there is a significant global shift in technical and scientific talent from the U.S. to Asia, which will have a corresponding impact on the research and development (R&D) global infrastructure. The number of U.S.-trained STEM professionals is inadequate to meet the nation's needs, given current pipeline and participation rates. Additionally, the diversity in race/ethnicity of the national population is not reflected in the population of STEM professionals. Demographic trends reinforce this shortage and indicate that an increasing number of STEM professionals will soon be retiring. Without counteracting factors, the estimated ratio of 22-year-olds who will earn scientific and engineering bachelor's degrees and could enter a STEM profession in the United States will continue to drop, and the flow of international students, scientists, and engineers to the U.S. has decreased as other countries recognize the economic importance of a technical workforce and implement policies that entice their citizens to remain at home. The authors advocate the need to encourage more U.S.-based individuals to consider STEM-related fields, an emergent need that presents an opportunity for the growing population of Latinos in the U.S. This report synthesizes existing literature regarding Latino participation in STEM-related fields, describes trends in degree attainment and employment levels for these fields, and chronicles obstacles and opportunities affecting Latino representation. (Contains 2 footnotes.) [For companion qualitative study, see ED502064.]
Tomas Rivera Policy Institute. University of Southern California, School of Policy, Planning, and Development, Ralph and Goldie Lewis Hall, 650 Childs Way Suite 102, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0626. Tel: 213-821-5615; Fax: 213-821-1976; e-mail: info@trpi.org; Web site: http://trpi.org
Publication Type: Information Analyses
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: IBM International Foundation
Authoring Institution: Tomas Rivera Policy Institute
Identifiers - Location: United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A