Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 28, 1992 TAG: 9203280077
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
It was perhaps the first positive budget news they had heard in recent months at Tech, which is struggling with state budget cuts.
Tech receives about $12.7 million in research dollars from the science foundation.
"The president recognizes the importance of investments in research and education," Bernthal said. The key, though, is to teach the average person the value of research.
"Jobs these days require more and more technical training," Bernthal said. "But what we need is not just more people in science and engineering. We need a scientifically literate society."
It may be a while coming.
In the latest round of international tests, U.S. students were near the bottom of 15 countries tested, Bernthal said.
"We need to do a lot better," he said. "Without improvement, a low quality work force will erode competitiveness."
The National Science Foundation, in keeping with its mission to support research and education, is expanding its programs in the area of competitiveness.
The foundation is working more in precollege education, getting teachers better training in math and science, he said. And it is encouraging research departments to work with education departments.
Students should be getting hands-on experience, he said, so they will leave with a knowledge, and maybe an interest, in research.
"We need to restore the balance between research and teaching," he said. "Teaching is our most visible link with society."
Bernthal worries that the public is losing its trust in science. Expense can appear daunting when multimillion expenditures make headlines, and there is a perception that the reliability of some projects is questionable. Space shuttle malfunctions, for example.
"Enthusiastic support used to come at the mention of `Manhattan' or `Apollo,' " Bernthal said. "Now the public is more likely to think, `What have you done for us lately?' "
It's true, said Tech President James McComas.
This year, as he traveled through Richmond trying to garner support for research during a budget slashing session, he was asked similar questions, he said.
"One of our own graduates asked, `What does research do for Henrico County.' "
by CNB