SSTI Digest

A comprehensive survey of 12,000 departments within 591 institutions of higher education in the U.S. reveals that, in 2003, graduate student enrollment in S&E programs increased by 4 percent over the previous year and 9 percent over the past decade. Foreign student enrollment, however, decreased 8 percent in 2003 after falling 6 percent the year before. The National Science Foundation InfoBrief reports similar findings to a survey conducted last year by the Council of Graduate Students (CGS) (see the Nov. 8 issue of the Digest). According to the CGS study, which surveyed 450 institutions of higher education, international graduate student applications declined across all major fields of study with the largest drop in engineering, where applications declined 36 percent from 2003 to 2004. In terms of enrollment, engineering also saw the largest decrease ­ 24 percent from the previous year. Overall declines in first-time, full-time enrollment of foreign students did not occur in all S&E fields, according to the NSF InfoBrief. Declines were seen in agricultural sciences,…

While the U.S. commitment to science is threatened by flattening federal R&D investments, two more countries demonstrate their shared belief that the way to economic prosperity is through science and innovation. Czech Republic The Czech Republic has outlined a five-year economic development plan that calls for doubling R&D's share of the gross domestic product by 2010. To achieve that goal requires increasing government spending for science and innovation by 20-25 percent annually, according to Martin Jahn, deputy prime minister for the economy. The country of 10.2 million people (2005 est.) currently only spends 0.6 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on science. The goal is to raise that to 1.3 percent by 2010, still well below the European average of 1.9 percent but ambitious nonetheless for a former Soviet block nation. Government spending will have to increase by at least 2-4 billion Czech korunas (approx. $84.3 million to $168.6 million US) each year for the next five years to meet the goal. [Note to states: This is real money, not borrowed through long…

Should policymakers focus on urban core centers as keys to economic growth or seek greater economic equity in the less developed periphery? A new study on regional policy and economic geography suggest policies should be directed toward core growth. In New Economic Geography, Empirics, and Regional Policy, the authors examine historic development patterns in Europe and test a new geographic model with time series data. Authors Steven Brakman, Harry Garretsen, Joeri Gorter, Albert van der Horst, and Marc Schramm conclude that economic activity quickly balances in favor of existing central clusters regardless of policies. In fact, policies focused on building regional infrastructure, as a way to pull commerce into less developed regions, often results in drawing activity back to core areas over time. The study highlights the following policy-related conclusions: Greater economic concentrations within a core cluster enhance overall productivity of a region; however, the core experiences disproportionately more growth than the outlying regions. Core clusters account for a…

Arizona State University professor James Collins is the new assistant director for biological sciences at the National Science Foundation. Larry Cox is the new director of the Ball State University Entrepreneurship Program, effective Aug. 22. Louisiana Department of Economic Development announced Robert Fudickar will be the technology industry director for the state agency. Russel Hancock is the new president and CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley. The U.S. Department of Commerce is promoting Chris Israel to serve as coordinator for international intellectual property enforcement. The new position will coordinate interagency protection efforts to combat international IP piracy. William "Bill" Mahoney is the new president and CEO of the South Carolina Research Authority. Joan Myers, president and CEO of Raleigh-based N.C. Technology Association, is the 2005-2007 president for the Council of Regional Information Technology Associations (CRITA). Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski appointed Bill Noll as…

Arizona State University professor James Collins is the new assistant director for biological sciences at the National Science Foundation.

Larry Cox is the new director of the Ball State University Entrepreneurship Program, effective Aug. 22.

Louisiana Department of Economic Development announced Robert Fudickar will be the technology industry director for the state agency.

Russel Hancock is the new president and CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is promoting Chris Israel to serve as coordinator for international intellectual property enforcement. The new position will coordinate interagency protection efforts to combat international IP piracy.

William "Bill" Mahoney is the new president and CEO of the South Carolina Research Authority.

Joan Myers, president and CEO of Raleigh-based N.C. Technology Association, is the 2005-2007 president for the Council of Regional Information Technology Associations (CRITA).

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski appointed Bill Noll as commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. Noll has been serving as the governor's communications director.