THE ISSUE: During his visit to Western last week, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson explained that the United States is falling behind the rest of the world in scientific advancement.
OUR VIEW: Western officials must continue to pursue the grants necessary to fund scientific research if they hope to elevate the university’s national profile.
The last time America was the world leader in scientific research, Lyndon B. Johnson was president and the county was slugging it out with Soviet Union in the space race.
Since then, the science and math literacy rates of American students have plummeted.
A 2003 study by the National Center for Education Statistics showing that U.S. high school performance ranked behind every European and Asian country clearly illustrates the declining emphasis on math and science.
Although Western can’t control what’s being taught at the high-school level, it can contribute to solving the crisis Tyson highlighted in his presentation.
President Gary Ransdell has said before that he wants Western to become one of the top applied research schools in the nation.
The university’s pursuit of stimulus money and other science grants is a great start toward reaching that goal.
According to a document provided by Richard Bowker, vice president for research and dean of Graduate Studies, Western has filled out proposals requesting about $14.4 million in grant requests.
Part of the credit for Western’s newfound tenacity lies with Bowker, who’s urged the faculty and staff to be aggressive in pursuing grant money.
Western has already been awarded nearly $900,000 for a program that will seek to increase the number of qualified math and science teachers, but there’s still work to be done before Western catches up to in-state research leaders such as the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville.
Aiding in that effort is a new science campus that includes the Center for Engineering and Biological Sciences and the remodeled Snell Hall.
With the resources now available, it’s time Western takes the next step with its research.
As a feeder school for their science-related graduate programs, UK and U of L shouldn’t underestimate the link between Western’s success and their continued reputation.
But if faculty and staff members continue to follow Bowker’s lead, the in-state competition has reason to fear.
Furthermore, the U.S. will have reason to celebrate when universities such as Western make the nation scientifically respectable for the first time since man landed on the moon.
This editorial represents the majority opinion of the Herald’s 11-member editorial board.
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