I am in Santa Fe, New Mexico this week for a summit on the state of Science and Technology in the United States.  I will have more information to come on this topic but here are some statistics to wet your whistle.

• Only 5% of Hispanic students and 2% of African-American students scored at the proficient level in science, according to the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress.
• US 12th graders ranked 16th in an international science test given to students in 21 countries in 1998.  Just 40 percent of students grasped basic concepts such as the relationship between pressure and volume.
• 68% of parents and 64% of elementary school teachers do not consider themselves to be scientifically literate.
• Currently, almost half of employers report having trouble finding qualified US workers in a wide range of occupations, from engineers to entry-level workers.
• Over two-thirds of employers report that high school graduates are “deficient” in almost all essential workplace skills.
• Business executives ranked education and workforce preparedness as their top concern, ahead of healthcare, energy, global competitiveness, and national security.