06/07/2006 Making Science Interesting: Schools need help from others

Op-Ed article 

By James C. Mullen

As the role of science and research throughout the world economy continues to grow, understanding science becomes increasingly important. If this country's science knowledge base does not keep pace, the United States' ability to compete in the global marketplace could be seriously impacted.

Unfortunately, while studies suggest that performance in mathematics and science has improved somewhat over the past three decades, U.S. students continue to perform at or well below the levels of students in many other countries. Moreover, overall U.S. student performance declines at higher grade levels.

According to the National Academies, U.S. 12th-graders performed below the international average for 21 countries on a general mathematics and science test. Other countries are investing heavily to create and maintain scientifically and technically literate work forces. To compete in global markets, the United States must have an equally capable work force.

Our schools cannot shoulder the responsibility of science education alone - they need the active help of not only parents and teachers, but also the business and science communities. Biotechnology, as an industry that employs thousands of scientists, is uniquely positioned to help.

In the summer of 2005, Biogen Idec expanded its Community Lab program with the opening of the Community Lab San Diego for seventh-grade students and teachers throughout the county. Like many companies and organizations before us, we recognized the need for improved science education and saw an opportunity to inspire students to become the scientists of tomorrow. Students benefit most by learning through discovery, therefore we developed a program that emphasizes how science is applied in the real world, with students conducting hands-on experiments side-by-side with scientists. Today, when the Community Lab San Diego concludes its first academic year, more than 1,000 local students will have come through this dedicated teaching lab in our University City research campus.

The Community Lab provides students with the opportunity to become scientists for a day. More importantly, students spend time interacting with people who have dedicated their lives to transforming discovery into advances in health care. In this setting, students make the vital connection between the classroom and a fulfilling career - a connection that is essential in igniting a lasting interest in science.

This is where the battle to improve science education will be won or lost in the United States. Ultimately, the outcome will not be determined by funding, technology, or modern lab equipment and space; it will be determined by whether or not we make science tangible and interesting.

San Diego County already supports many educational opportunities for young people. Better Education for Women in Science and Engineering (BEWiSE), Expanding Your Horizons (EYH), the Life Science Summer Institute, Partnerships Involving the Scientific Community in Elementary Schools (PISCES) and the Salk Institute Mobile Science Lab are established programs that provide opportunities in science, engineering and math.

In addition to these not-for-profit programs, many companies are supporting science education. Amgen provides biotechnology equipment and supplies to high schools and colleges, conducts workshops for area high school students and recognizes exemplary science teachers with the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence. With an emphasis on reaching young women and minorities, EMC generously provides computers to classrooms and supports teacher training.

For these and many other local programs, the focus has been on supplying equipment, recognizing teachers and students or sponsoring competitions and science fairs. All of these are vital and must be continued, but we have to sell students on science in creative and enduring ways.

Moving forward, we must do more to:

Demonstrate that science education can lead to a promising job. The biotechnology industry is near the top for compensation and job satisfaction ratings.

Urge scientists to become mentors and reach out to students and teachers. Second only to an inspiring teacher, a good mentor has major impacts on students' career paths.

Open our labs to show students that science is more than just another subject in school. Providing windows into research labs will begin to make science more accessible.

Lasting improvement in science literacy depends on the continuous, collaborative efforts of students, teachers, school administrators, businesses and nonprofit organizations, and also on our ability to provide role models and experiences that interest students in science. Too many science education initiatives are aimed simply at providing basic equipment or rewarding the few students who are excelling in science.

We need a broader initiative that creates a demand for science education - a demand from the students themselves. For too long we have kept scientific curiosity, energy and excitement bottled up in the lab. It's time to release it by having scientists take the lead.

Mullen is president and chief executive officer of Biogen Idec, a global leader in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of therapies for oncology, neurology and immunology. He is also the chairman of the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

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