Orlando Sentinel guest column on science

Paul Cottle, physics professor at FSU and blogger at Bridge to Tomorrow, had a guest column published in today’s Orlando Sentinel: Better prepare students for science, engineering.

Even though science and engineering offer the best economic opportunities for college graduates, it is all too common for students in Florida and elsewhere to arrive at a university unprepared for the challenging bachelor’s-degree programs in these subjects. The calls by President Obama and business leaders to expand the science, technology, engineering and math work force seem empty when students can’t pass introductory college courses in basic science.

Calculus and physics are the high-school courses most strongly correlated with success in bachelor’s-degree programs in science, technology, engineering and math fields, a 2007 study by faculty at the University of South Florida found.

We need to make preparing students for college majors in science and engineering a priority in Florida. This is not only important for the state’s economy, but also for our students. After all, the top eight best-paid majors for new college graduates listed in the Spring 2011 report of the National Association of Colleges and Employers are in science and engineering fields.

About Brandon Haught

Communications Director for Florida Citizens for Science.
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