Quoted:
Our technological lead isn't as great as it once was and it may get even worse in the future.
Look at the facts: Take a look at America's youth today, and see how many of them, and what percentage of them, are going
to college for advanced technical degrees, in the sciences that built the F-22. Every scientific discipline has played its role in the
design of the F-22 except for maybe the biological sciences. (Although, human factors are of course critical to the design of the
aircraft.) Physics...chemistry...electronics...computer science...materials engineering...it's all there.
Now look at the youth of certain other countries and see how many of THEM are pursuing science degrees.
Actually go out and try to find that data.
The answers will be vaguely alarming. Our technological lead is by no means assured in the long term. Frankly, right now,
arguably the best way to recruit good engineers in some fields is to look for Indian immigrants with Ph.Ds in these fields.
CJ
In FY 2008, my University awarded 5790 bachelor's degrees. Out of those 5790 degrees, 1455 were in the natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology etc) and 549 were in engineering (source:
http://www.colorado.edu/pba/degrees/deglvl/fy5/progbachterm.htm ).
Together, natural science and engineering graduates were about 35% of the total, which is about average in the US.
From our school, for every one aerospace engineer (69 graduated in 2008) who can design our next fighter jet, there are a little more than 3 (213 in 2008) communications majors who have nothing except for experience playing beer pong.