Reviews two areas of concern in precollege science and mathematics education: (1) public ignorance of mathematical, scientific, and technological phenomena and (2) shortage of individuals competent and willing to teach science/mathematics. Focusing on the latter, includes comments (with possible solutions) from science educators, politicians, and…

Presents an overview of the field of industrial microbiology, providing historical backgrounds of scientific discoveries in the field and descriptions of industrially important microorganisms. Applied research in industry is also detailed, with mention of gene amplification, DNA recombination, pharmaceutical approaches, and detoxification and…

Traces the development of the field of industrial microbial genetics, describing a range of techniques for genetic programing. Includes a discussion of site-directed mutagenesis, protoplast fusion, and recombinant DNA manipulations. (CS)

Seven types of external frontiers of science are identified: federal government, educational establishment, private sector, national security and defense, world science and technology, the developing world, and the U.S. society. Problems for science and scientists related to these frontiers are discussed, considering changing national and…

The Department of Education and the National Science Foundation report that pre-college science, mathematics, and engineering education are adequate for students who are career oriented in those fields but inadequate for the remaining students. Professional education in these same areas is also inadequate. Discusses reasons, problems and possible…

Describes the three aviation programs in the School of Aeronautics at the Florida Institute of Technology: Flight Technology, Air Commerce and Transportation, and Aviation Electronic Technology. (DS)

After viewing videotaped case studies indicating the relevance of electrical laboratory work to professional engineers, student attitudes showed a positive improvement toward laboratory work. Semantic differential tests, questionnaires, and interviews were used. (Author/MH)

Interviews with doctoral students and supervisors in physics, mathematics, and engineering attending nine English universities investigated student expectations of doctoral supervision, extent to which expectations were met, and the ways in which supervision changes as the doctoral process progresses. Issues in training of PhD supervisors, their…

Describes the Consortium for Distance University, founded in 1984 to establish a distance teaching university system in Italy. The Consortium is comprised of multinational companies, universities, and semi-governmental organizations with support from the Italian Ministry of Education. Discusses its objectives, services, history, learning…

Described is the status of science education reform in 1990. Different groups working on change, demographic trends in the US, student anecdotes, lab operations, the role of Sigma Xi, goals set by the state governors, industry efforts, and programs for the improvement of middle school teachers are discussed. (CW)

Projections are analyzed for the future supply and demand of scientists and engineers. The demographics of the college-age population combined with estimates of the percentage of students who will pursue careers in science and engineering indicate significant shortfalls between the supply and demand for the next several decades. (CW)

Uses a modular approach so the Local Area Network (LAN) can be easily dismantled and reassembled for each class. Notes the course is evolving to keep pace with rapid advances in networking technology although only in its second year. Expands the basic LAN through the addition of second generation personal computers. (MVL)

Discussed are problems encountered when a gas absorption experiment with strong measurement error is used. Notes students either avoid the experiment or report it as defective. Provides ideas to make lab experiments more instructive. (MVL)

Describes a course which has been designed to develop oral and written communication skills appropriate for engineering graduate students and for the demands of their post-graduate careers. Provides course strategy and content. (MVL)

Discusses how, in two three-week sessions, the Terre Haute (Indiana) college offers selected students a hands-on approach to all aspects of engineering from design and lab work to technical writing. Describes a group project requiring students to study and experiment with simple research problems. Lists 20 project ideas. (MVL)