Transcript Why Gradaute School? - University of Texas at El Paso

“Second only to a weapon of mass destruction detonating in an American city, we
can think of nothing more dangerous than a failure to manage properly science,
technology, and education for the common good over the next quarter-century.”
Hart-Rudman Report

Innovation and Discovery drive economic growth and
prosperity
 90% of new economic growth results from investments in innovation-
Robert Solow, Economics Nobel Laureate

Diversity fuels innovation

Over the last six decades, the United States has led the
global research and development in energy production,
conversion and utilizations
2/3/2010
2

Transition to a low a carbon economy
 Transformation changes in energy production, conversion, and
utilization sciences and engineering
 Clean, affordable and abundant energy for a carbon constrained future
 Climate sustainability is the new paradigm of energy engineering

Future energy and climate R& D challenges are complex
 Need for significant R&D across discipline boundaries
2/3/2010
3
Image Source: Petrill et al., Electric Power Research Institute, 2009
2/3/2010
4
2/3/2010
Image Source: Petrill et al., Electric Power Research Institute, 2009
5
2/3/2010
Image Source: Petrill et al., Electric Power Research Institute, 2009
6

To achieve CCS target and keep the electricity affordable a host
of new technologies are needed
 Smart Grid and Renewable Energy Technologies
 Advanced based load power plant technologies

Technology potential exists, however, much of the technologies
are not available for commercial level deployments
 A massive R&D effort to transform energy engineering towards greater
security and climate sustainability
2/3/2010
7
“Is America going to hell? After a year of economic calamity that
many fear has sent us into irreversible decline, the author finds
reassurance in the peculiarly American cycle of crisis and
renewal, and in the continuing strength of the forces that have
made the country great: our university system, our
receptiveness to immigration, our culture of innovation. In most
significant ways, the U.S. remains the envy of the world…….”
James Fallows
How America Can Rise Again
The Atlantic, Jan/Feb 2010
2/3/2010
8

Are we loosing our edge?
 Decreasing ability to muster a technically trained workforce
 Not enough students choosing STEM careers
 Ranks well behind PhD production in STEM fields
2/3/2010
9

Shrinking federal S&E workforce.

Between 1990 to 2000, DOD has experienced a 62%
decline in its S&E workforce.

45% of all federal S&E workforce are 45 years or older

There are simply not enough graduate students enrolled
in energy disciplines at US universities to replace the
engineers and scientists who plan to retire within the
next 5-8 years.
2/3/2010
10
 Changing demographics
▪ Between 2004 to 2015 the projected enrollment in degree giving
institute is to increase
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
6% for White
27% for Black
42% for Hispanic
30 % Native American
28% Asian /Pacific Islanders
 The ‘New Majority’
2/3/2010
Data Source
Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Projections of Education Statistics to 2015,
NCES2006-084, Sep. 2006
Matthews, C., Federal Research and Development Funding at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, CRS
Report for Congress, 2008
11
2/3/2010
Data and Image Source: http://www.engtrends.com/IEE/0806C.php; accessed on June 6, 2009
12
2/3/2010
Data Source: Science and Engineering Statistics, National Science Foundation
13
2/3/2010
Data Source: Science and Engineering Statistics, National Science Foundation
14
2/3/2010
Data Source: Science and Engineering Statistics, National Science Foundation
15
Percentage of BS in Engineering, Math, Physics and Sciences
Selected Universities
White Male
Asian Male
5%
4%
5%
Hispanic Male
Black Female
10%
19%
12%
26%
2/3/2010
Black Male
White Female
19%
Data Source: Bowen, W. G. et al., Crossing the Finish Line, Princeton, 2009
16

Less than ~ 2% of federal R&D, is aligned with energy


In 1980 federal 10% of R&D budget was allocated for energy
The FY08 allocation for DOE Energy and Science is ~ 1% of all federal
R&D

Half of the allocation went to science
 Much of the basic research is not aligned with energy

For comparison, FY08 budget for NIH: ~10% ; DoD: ~26%

the energy sector is the largest single industry,

~$1.9 trillion Energy ,
 ~$1.7 trillion health sector
 ~$1.2 trillion defense
Data Source: Council of Energy Research and Education Leaders, http://www.NCSEonline.org/CEREL, accessed on June, 2009
2/3/2010
17
Federal R&D Obligation to Universities
FY 2006
USDA
3%
Other
10%
DOE
4%
DOD
9%
NSF
12%
NASA
4%
HHS
58%
Data Source: National Science Foundation
2/3/2010
18
DOE R&D Obligations to HBCU/MIs
FY 2007
HBCU
1%
HHE
2%
Tribal Colleges
0%
All Universities
97%
Data Source: National Science Foundation
2/3/2010
19

The total Energy R&D obligations to HBCU
and MIs are only 3% despite
 ~33% of the S&E undergraduate degrees earned
by blacks are awarded at HBCUs
 ~35% of the S&E undergraduate degrees earned
by Hispanics are awarded at HHEs (11.5% at
Puerto Rico)
2/3/2010
Data Source: Science and Engineering Statistics, National Science Foundation
20

Research Infrastructure


Faculty Development


Increased challenge of attracting and retaining high quality
faculty
Endowment


Highly competitive conditions in higher education
Limited endowment
Partnership

2/3/2010
Limited collaborative partnerships with Research I
universities
21