David Pogue combines his love for
technology and music at the conclusion of his lecture on February 20 at Meacham
Auditorium.
PHOTO: Kendall Burchard
David Pogue, host of "NOVA
ScienceNOW", discussed the national importance of cultivating an educational
system rooted in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) at the
University of Oklahoma on February 20. Pogue’s appropriately timed lecture came
days after OU President David L. Boren criticized cuts to higher education
funding, and proposed the negative effects expected as a result.
Pogue
stressed the consequences of an education devoid of STEM subjects for the
country as we attempt to compete on a global stage. Sponsored by a lecture
series provided for by the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, Pogue’s
lecture emphasized the necessity of a STEM education for all ages.
“If you
look at where America got its reputation, it’s from science and engineering
inventions,” said Pogue, “STEM talent equals success.” Pogue attributes the
lack of innovation to the structure of our educational system, specifically the
use of “weed out” classes to discourage freshmen from pursuing the STEM
subjects. “One in four incoming freshmen expects to major in a STEM subject.
Think of all those pre-med students, about how many of them expect to become
doctors,” said Pogue, “How many of them graduate as pre-med?”
“The punch
line in all of this is we are losing our edge in science,” said Pogue.
Governor
Mary Fallin recognizes the need for STEM education within the state. According
to the Journal Record, Fallin said if Oklahoma businesses are to compete in the
oil, gas, aerospace and technology industries, the state must improve
education—specifically STEM education. However,
according to the Journal Record, she has stated that she would be unwilling to
raise taxes to improve STEM education. Instead,
Fallin has proposed a series of tax cuts that would cut sources of funding to
higher education, including STEM programs.
OU President David L. Boren addressed
impending budget cuts to higher education in an urgent message to the people of
Oklahoma on February 16. "Under the proposed budget, we will continue to
invest less in education per student than any of the states that surround
us--Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Arkansas, Missouri and New Mexico. This budget
must be changed! We are on the wrong path,” Boren said. According to Tulsa
World, state funding for higher education has dropped by 10% since 2008, forcing
cuts in research and innovation while forcing tuition prices to rise. "I
just don't know how our schools and universities will survive," said Boren
to Tulsa World.
Oklahoma
citizens like Kendall George agree. As an information technology staff member
for the university, George serves as a strong proponent of a STEM education
within public schools. George allowed his daughter, Angela George, an eighth
grader, to play hooky from school in order to see Pogue speak.
"We
don't really have normal TV, so I watch a lot of PBS. NOVA is my favorite
show," Angela George said, "I really just like learning about
different things. They don't cover that kind of stuff in eighth grade
science." Kendall George agreed with his daughter.
"We
use NOVA to supplement what she's not getting at school. We understand the
value of a STEM education, and we want her to be able to experience that,"
said Kendall George, “It's good to have people like David Pogue advocating for
it, and Bill Nye. Maybe then we can hope to get through to the legislature.” On
February 21, the Oklahoma state senate passed Bill 1181, outlining intentions
to increase STEM education programs and awareness in the following years at all
levels of learning.
Kendall
George advocates for an increase in funding for public schools and universities
throughout the state. “It starts with funding. It starts with funding our
classrooms and our facilities, and paying our teachers a living wage. How do
you attract good people to a career where it's difficult to get by on the
salary? It just makes sense,” said George.
Pogue advocates
for an increase of project-based learning models in universities, and the
abolition of the “sink or swim” mentality plaguing higher education. Despite
the clear benefits of a STEM education, Pogue says the presence of creativity
within our educational system should not be changed. “Even though Chinese
students and Indian students get better scores and are better at the hard work,
they will prefer an American scientist or engineer if they can get their hands
on one,” said Pogue, “for the simple reason that our educational systems prize
creativity, problem solving, and out-of-the-box thinking.” Pogue’s newest
project, Yahoo Tech, launched in January, and can be found at www.yahoo.com/tech. To find out more about
“NOVA Science Now”, visit www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/.
