Fall 1998 CONFCHEM Switching Students on to Science

Abstract: This presentation is largely a group of personal impressions on the problem of attracting students to the profession of the sciences. It is based on what happened during visits to roughly 75 high schools/middle schools, conversations with teachers, students at all levels, and experiences in raising a family. Two new specters have risen, Scylla: the fact that environmental regulations are increasing yearly in number and restrictiveness; Charybdis: many of the newer safety protocols seem appropriate for heavy industry, not a laboratory setting The presentation explores the likely negative impact of these specters on recruiting students to science, in light of the current "youth culture." The attitudes and ideas of young people vis-a-vis the world, science, the environment and public policy are explored briefly, as well as certain aspects of secondary science education in the central US. The problem of attracting girls to science is considered. The major conclusion is that efforts to attract students to science are best made for grade school or early middle school students, and that the basics of environmental regulations and safety only should be given at this stage with an indication that these are "part of the business."