We need more American engineers
Curriculum can open career to students.
Published January 31, 2005
News-Leader.com
Springfield, MO
Southwest Missouri State University and the city of Springfield are working
to create the Jordan Valley Innovation Center, a high-tech research lab
downtown. This is an exciting project that will contribute to the area's
continued economic growth. Engineering research can have amazing results.
But there need to be engineers to do the research. Too few students are
seeking careers in engineering.
"It's estimated by the year 2010 that the United States is going to be
700,000 engineers and technicians short," says Edward Stephens, director of
the Carthage Technical Center. "Especially after 9/11, we became a whole lot
more cautious about who is dealing with nuclear engineering and chemical
engineering."
Combating that shortage is one reason Stephens is interested in his school
participating in Project Lead the Way, a special curriculum designed to
introduce high school students to engineering. It's a promising area for our
young people.
Ralph Flori, an assistant dean for pre-college programs at the University of
Missouri-Rolla, said the Carthage school will be the first one in southwest
Missouri to participate.
In the current school year, only 22 Missouri high schools are participating
in Project Lead the Way. Nationally, more than 1,000 schools in 42 states
participate.
The courses require students to find problems, figure out the math and
science needed to solve the problem, make drawings of the solution and build
it.
Most importantly, they introduce students who may be unsure what they want
to do with their lives to an exciting career option.
The challenging curriculum is structured so that college-bound and technical
school students can participate. Flori said it has the possibility of
unlocking potential in students who have lacked initiative.
"It will ignite a creative fire in kids and open their eyes to jobs that
they would not have thought about before," he said.
Engineering jobs contribute greatly to an area's economy. This program has
the potential to boost technological industries in this state. The
Innovation Center is an example of how talented engineers can do research
that should lead to creation of manufacturing jobs.
The curriculum is not something a school district can implement overnight.
Grants are available to help with the significant start-up costs. Summer
training is required for teachers who want to be certified.
But there are also great rewards. We hope that more schools, especially in
southwest Missouri, look at the long-term positive effects this can have for
their areas — and this country.
As Stephens said, engineering offers students a great high-paying career.
"It's a very promising area for our young people," he said. "We've turned
out a lot of engineers through the past. We're just looking to step it up."