Advocates nurturing ability and talent in science, engineering, and technology (SET). Suggests some reasons why young people turn away from SET, discusses what is currently being done to remedy it, and recommends solutions to the problem. (NB)

Examines cross-national data findings that female enrollment in science and engineering fields increased between 1972 and 1993 in higher education. Explains that the increase was affected by women's level of enrollments in the nonscience and nonengineering fields. Suggests a positive spillover effect for women. (CMK)

Looks at equipment, process, and training aspects of backpack vacuum cleaners that facilitate good ergonomics and high productivity levels, focusing on: designing new equipment for bodies and productivity; creating comfortable backpack harnesses; improving the work process via team training; and providing ergonomic training to ensure that backpack…

This interpretive study of a Year Six classroom in North Queensland, Australia focuses on how two contrasting groups of children designed ill-defined engineering structures. The collaboration processes within the research team are explored. Classroom-related findings are also reported. (AIM)

Summarizes the American Society for Engineering Education's (ASEE) project called Engineering Education for a Changing World. Outlines each step of the project and explains the reasons for altering the theory and practice of engineering education. (DDR)

Argues on ontological grounds against the idea that technology is simply applied science. The premise of the argument is that technology can also be considered a necessary precursor to scientific knowledge. Contains 19 references. (DDR)

Describes the National Science Foundation (NSF) report on undergraduate science education that emphasizes goals for undergraduate education. Discusses barriers to improving science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education and highlights recommendations based on the report. Concludes that the report contains a useful look back at the…

Interviews with 16 second-year science and technology cooperative education students revealed their mixed confidence in practical science skills and self-efficacy in learning new skills. Some were confident, some apprehensive about analytical thinking skills. They were confident about their ability to communicate science information and their…

Provides an overview and discusses outcomes of the Rural Girls in Science (RGS) program which was developed to foster interest in science, engineering, and mathematics among rural high school girls in the state of Washington. Replaces initial guiding concepts (self-esteem and scientific pipeline) with science-affirming and affirming science…

Speculates on the issue of whether innovation can be taught. Uses historical accounts to suggest characteristic patterns of innovation. (DDR)

Notes that communication across the curriculum initiatives face multiple curricular and pedagogical challenges that are especially appropriate for investigation within a scholarship of teaching and learning framework. Examines technical classes that emphasize speaking and writing. Indicates that students were resistant toward the incursion of…

Reviews science learning in higher education, specifically in engineering, and the influences of technologically-mediated approaches on the cooperative learning of practical work and science. Discusses reasons for including practical work in science education, implementing practical work in distance education, and using technology and learning…

Describes a two-semester numerical methods course that serves as a research experience for undergraduate students without requiring external funding or the modification of current curriculum. Uses an engineering problem to introduce students to constrained optimization via a variation of the traditional isoperimetric problem of finding the curve…

The U.S. Department of Defense has begun using its buying power to enforce standards on the vendors and contractors of automatic data processing hardware and software. An example of this, the Computer-Aided Acquisition and Logistic Support (CALS) program, is described, and how it will affect electronic publishing systems is discussed. (five…

The annual census of industrial employment, production workers, women, the workweek, scientists and engineers, chemical employment, wages, and productivity in the chemical industry is presented. Trends in the numbers of workers, productivity, and unit labor costs are illustrated in graphs. (CW)