Pogue: "STEM talent equals success"

David Pogue combines his love for technology and music at the conclusion of his lecture on February 20 at Meacham Auditorium. 

PHOTO: Kendall Burchard 

By Kendall Burchard 

         Days after University of Oklahoma President David L. Boren criticized cuts to high education funding, STEM education advocate and host of "NOVA Science Now" David Pogue discussed the importance of a STEM education in securing America’s future success. 

Pogue stressed the consequences of an education devoid of science, technology, engineering and math for the country as we attempt to compete on the global stage. Sponsored by the Cathey Simmons Humphreys Distinguished Education Lecture Series through 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.  

         OU President David L. Boren addressed impending budget cuts to higher education in an urgent message to the people of Oklahoma on February 16. The advertisement ran in a number of state newspapers and questioned the necessity of the proposed tax cut. According to Boren, “60% of Oklahomans would get $2.50 or less per month” as a result of the tax cut. 

"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.” 

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 advocated 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.