Florida Citizens for Science

 Frank T. Brogan, chancellor of the State University System of Florida, said in a impassioned talk Wednesday,that it was time for Florida to “grow up”touting a growing focus on STEM classes as a move toward that goal. Speaking at the 2011 Florida STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Summit, Brogan rallied for a plan for economic progress he calls the “New Florida Initiative.” “We need to make the same commitment and create a knowledge-based economy for the Sunshine State.”he said. In these hard economic times is this all just rhetoric, or is there any real substance in his comments that will reach fruition? Only time will tell.

Gov. Scott decided to pick on anthropologists: “We’re spending a lot of money on education, and when you look at the results, it’s not great…. Do you want to use your tax money to educate more people who can’t get jobs in anthropology? I don’t.”

Anthropologists struck back.

“My colleagues and I in the Anthropology Department at USF encourage our Governor to do his homework on the modern discipline of anthropology before making another casual but ill-informed remark.”

“Perhaps you are unaware that anthropologists are leaders in our nation’s top science fields, making groundbreaking discoveries in areas as varied as public health, human genetics, legal history, bilingualism, the African American heritage, and infant learning.”