Hi Bill,

Other people have covered most aspects of this question thotoughly.

I offer two thoughts; One general and specific to your question and another from an Australian perspective:

1. In broad terms the emotion or intellectual aspect of a person's mental makeup that needs to be aroused to provide impetus to a career option in Science and Technology is curiosity.

If people have awakened in them an intense curiosity they will be able to apply their talents in this area. I note the comment of the American Patents office man in the late 19th Century that "Everything worthwhile has already been invented".

As we all know it certainly has not - people still dream of the uninvented, so let us get some curiosity happening.

2. The situation is different in Australia and worthy of comment.

A google search will demonstrate that many things and devices that we know as common-place were invented by Australians in Australia.

The challenge for this country is that we have great people and great minds to think of things but very few entrepreneurial or philanthropic types to support people getting their ides commercialised and into the marketplace.

To see what I mean you only have to watch the Australian television show "The New Inventors..

Regards

Wayne

posted March 1, 2008

It is easy to get lost in this complicated & complex world - especially the young generation. Good question , What more can we do ? I would say - Focus on the foundations , the core and ignite that curiosity. Share the vision of visionaries. Challenge them .Let them dream , Open the doors for the unknown possibilities of life beyond earth. This is a challenging goal . This is the responsibility of everybody - Parents , Teachers , Friends , Companies & Community . Talking about companies , It is normal to have companies engage with college education to hire eligible students via campus. But what is not normal is companies working closely with schools right from primary education .Believe me it would have huge - huge impact -- Lets say we had a mandated rule around the world --- All the companies in a particular town/city has to come together and create a scheduled appraoch to work closely with kids in various small science projects and groom them . not just picking them at graduate college level


Easier said than done --- Thanks Mr Gates for all what you did and what you are dong with your foundation . This world is blessed to have person like you who make a difference in many people's life globally on a day to day basis .

- Naidu

Links:

• http://www.nsdcs.com

posted March 1, 2008

Hi Bill,

Subsidize H.S. teachers/schools with:

- classroom equipment
- internship programs with 'commercial/private' businesses
- performance bonuses supporting local districts
- awards for students and their teachers
- national & regional trips to science and technology fairs
- supported recognition bestowed by 'commercial/private' businesses
- scholarships & subsidized loans

JC Brandon

posted March 1, 2008

One of the major obstacles in developing world is literacy - a major social & business opportunity lies, in the field of providing - education through "low cost" interactive education medium, that gives tools - in the hands of a 10 year old kid living in slum of Delhi - to create and learn. With out the kid to have knowledge of english. With over 500 million childrens across world living in slums, it is a major challenge. Next generation of Edisons and Einstein can be from these places - also next generations of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet - will be from these impoverished sectors - they are enterprising from young age (to survive) - they are more smart than Harvard MBA's and know their talk. As Microsoft changed computing, Google changed internet - next generation of super ideas - will be one who can make illeterates - talk and interact with machines - without them having burden of knowing writing or reading. In my work as an entrepreneur I have always been intrigued - that if the last person who is not literate - can be made to use computers - they can cross the divide between literate and non literate - their ideas are more unique than boardroom executive - I am sure if Bill Gates, is listening - he can take Microsoft to greater heights - by making tools that serve this class - and we will see science and technology in young people zoom.

posted March 1, 2008

To play the average RPG video game, a child must learn and master no less than 70 new rules or skills. These skills do not increase the player’s likelihood of success in the game, rather these are the bare minimum to negotiate the game.

In this virtual reality or immersion simulation environment, the child is monitoring no fewer than 100 individual incoming streams of data from 360 degrees in all three planes of three-dimensional space. In addition, the most recent generations of these game systems provide text, audio, and video conferencing, allowing players to collaborate in real time with individuals not only within their country but across the internet in other countries.

These collaborations are not bounded by language differences. As a result, to work collaboratively within a given group and have that group work collaboratively against other groups, the players must learn a new language either one unique to the game or one utilized in common by all players within their team.

But what does this have to do with education or business process enhancement?

What would happen if the much ballyhooed No Child Left Behind curriculum handed over to video game programmers and utilized as the rules, processes and systems of a series of role playing adventure video games?

What if the same level of mastery of scholastic skills were required achieve success within the various levels of these games?

It is estimated that the entire K through 8 educational curriculum would be learned and mastered within a short two and a half years!

Further, the remaining four years of high school would be completed within 18 months. Given that this sophistication of video games require a certain level reading and fine motor skills, students would not be ready to begin such a program until age seven or eight (third grade). These students would therefore complete high school by the end of seventh grade.

Military and civilian applications of immersion simulation and virtual reality training have found that application and retention of information and skills learned maintain greater than 90% recall and greater than 90% proficiency in real world application. This means that students learning in an immersion simulation / virtual reality environment would not only master their K through 12 education, but would recall it with over 90% accuracy and apply it with over 90% proficiency. This exceeds even the best educational programs anywhere in the world by over a two to one margin.

Given this level of retention and proficiency, these seventh graders would be able to augment their education with the first two years of college (Liberal Arts studies) which they would again complete within a year. A well-rounded education could be further augmented with Music and Literature, which of course would be part of the immersion simulation rather than separate courses, lending little or no additional time to the program.

In such a technology augmented education, by the time an average child graduates from middle school and enter their adolescent years, they would have completed the equivalent of two years of college in a Liberal Arts program, again with a mastery level greater than 90% or in collegiate terms, a Magna Cum Laude level of expertise.

For a preadolescent or adolescent today, the xBox 360 or similar device is not technology, rather it is a tool not unlike a toaster. If we truely want ot encourage the youth of today to pursue careers in science and technology, we must adopt their tools to provide their education so that they learn to use those tools to develop tomorrow's technology and discover tomorrow's science.

posted March 1, 2008

Dean Kamen has demonstrated through his FIRST robotic competition a great approach to getting young people inspired about science and technology

Links:

• http://www.usfirst.org

posted March 1, 2008

Tell the Bill Gates story as an independent film – produced, written, and performed by emerging young talent. It's gotta be interesting. Get an emerging young musician to do the soundtrack. Make it authentic. This is what youth listens to.

posted March 1, 2008

Hmm, is there a point in being the 13,000th guy to answer the question? Probably not, but I am here anyway so here it goes.

The key to interesting young people in science/tech is the same as interesing them in literature and poetry, or interesting them in theater. You have to have teachers that inspire them to take an interest in these fields. Science and engineering is seen as boring and stuffy because the teachers are excellent scientists (usually) and rarely excellent orators; They couldnt inspire a goth chick to write depressing poetry. Train your teachers to orate, entertain, and communicate, to engage all their senses and challenge the students without intimidating them, show them the magic that is all around them that they may not have ever noticed, and the students will flock to them.

posted March 1, 2008

I think we have reached a generation gap in respect to science and technology. Most younger people today are taking things for granted without a thought as to the value and difference they have made the world.

With that in mind children in general don't see the benefits, they just see the end result.

For example:
I turn on the tap there is my water.
If I am ill I go see the doctor and he gives me some medicine.
I switch on the PC and play my games or chat to friends.
I put in a DVD and watch a film.
I switch on my iPod and play my music.
If I want to speak to my friends while shopping at the mall I'll use my mobile.

We have to make them aware of what it is like without the use of this technology and make them aware of how things are made or how the science has made it all possible.

By explaining it to them at home my 2 children normally say "Dad that's boring" and pretend to fall asleep:p so I have to show them in my small way by opening up a PC or taking them outside and showing them how some things work.

A great way we could make an impact and one project I would love to help with would be to travel to schools and show fun and exciting examples of what is possible today and the innerworkings of something. Showing them a maths calculation or some programming code really will not inspire them.

Each school or body should setup a project whereby they could visit a factory or lab and see the world in action as it happens. Then perform a small practical task at home with parents or at school afterwards.

By doing this we are going back to the roots of what makes humans curious and excited. When we played with lego or models when we were younger we could do anything and our imagination came alive.

We have to do this for our younger generation now and with many projects globally.

so Mr Gates this is something I am hoping you are looking at taking a role in and if you need people like us to help make a difference to then so be it - my hand is up.

posted March 1, 2008

Most kids see the end result of technology--with computers, they benefit from the game, from the application. They spend endless hours structuring their virtual world, building their virtual empires, and amassing virtual conquests.

In the end though, they're simply feeding the reality of being chubby young adults living in their mothers' basements while being virtual kings or generals.

If you could find a way to make it cool to learn how to program an application--that might be a good start. If building things can somehow become chic, that would be great. If we can make math sexy...that would be fantastic.

We've spent so much time making life easier that kids are simply used to having things thought out for them. Technology doesn't exist to them...things just magically happen.

Think about how your mother and father helped spark your imagination. Think about those things that you were most passionate about as a kid, and how you started down the path that led you to who you are today. Then try to foster an environment that will spark that same passion in a child today.

posted March 1, 2008

1. A CHALLENGE TO MAKE HISTORY: US President John F Kennedy set a goal in 1961 to go to the moon and come back safely. What's our moon shot today? Renewable energy and clean-tech is attracting engineering talent, but is it motivating the non-science crowd? "All 6 billion citizens have light day and night" can help to make it real - and could trigger science fairs in the US, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa to compete. What if Bill Gates said - we commit to "light up your life" and the best prizes would be awarded by grade (K-4, 5-8, high school, college) just like a spelling bee?

2. A "HIP" APPROACH: Can you Solve Human Problems for Profit? YES. Companies like GE have the Logiq XP portable notebook computer with an ultrasound - saving lives in India and Africa, and making GE money. Wal-Mart has launched health clinics in its retail stores. ICICI Bank of India grants microloans to entrepreneurial citizens in poverty, and AIG insurance is mitigating the risk of those loans in China. All of these products create positive Human Impact (health, wealth, earth, equality, trust) and Profit -- which equals a "H.I.P." approach.

3. EASY NETWORKS FOR TEAMING: From LinkedIn to Wikipedia to Facebook, it's easier to be connected than ever. But where are we sharing the fun and excitement of teaming up to solve a human problem for profit? YouTube helped the presidential debates be more connected. But can a group of students collaborate and compete at the same time to be more energy efficient? What if school utility bills/usage were published online and students competed to innovate - sensor lighting, classes outside, solar panels, ...or a new technology that didn't exist? It's the "egg drop" challenge from physics class, but applied to every student in every school in every country. And a prize to the most improved, the lowest usage, and the most collaborative team -- which could be the one whose ideas are used by (or rated highest by) the most schools.

4. A WAY TO KEEP SCORE: Whether improving health, boosting wealth, sustaining the earth or balancing equitable access to technology, individuals have passions in different areas. But an innovative solution has ripple effects. Valuing the impact of a invention (quality of life improved, greenhouse gases reduced, gaps to gender equality) as well as its profitability will attract the most students. If there was a business-plan competition for student teams, then they could compete for funding to solve problems using science and technology.

5. ICONS AND ROLE MODELS: Thomas Edison, Madame Curie, Albert Einstein, Rosalind Franklin, Craig Venter, Sally Ride, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Bill Gates. Do students know all of these icons? Do they know their stories? Is college the only path for a scientist/technologist? Showcasing women and men of all colors are essential. What drives them? How did they choose their path? What book contains stories of young women and men scientists around the world - sounds like it should be published.

Overall, set the challenge, solve a human problem for profit, measure the human impact and profit, and make it a competition. Kids, tweens and teens will rise to the challenge - we just need to "think big enough" to inspire all of us to team together and change the world.

Links:

• http://www.HIPinvestor.com
• http://www.intel.com/education/sts/

posted March 1, 2008

Expose them to genuine scinetists and technologists and the difference they made for betterment of our lives. Instead, the wested intersts bombard them with hollow personalities to 'sell' their wares. Its time we look at our youngester as custodians of the future rather than just mindless consumers of the junk many corporations generate.

posted March 1, 2008

Many people have a fear of the unknown. Not understanding what really is involved or the benefits that come with such a career it is easily dismissed. As a community and as individuals we each need to do our part to encourage others and highlight the accomplishments of those already in this field. In doing so, we can create a synergy that mimics other industries with a more noticeable public profile. Awareness leads to knowledge, knowledge leads to action, and action leads to results. If we can do the first part, the rest will fall into place.

posted March 1, 2008

In order to direct more young women to technological and scientific careers we need to ensure fair treatment and equal salary.
As woman trying to compete in the scientific technology world, I find for some women it's difficult to fit into the 'guy's club'. Men don't take want to take women seriously on techonological processes. It takes a woman longer to convince a group of men, it takes longer for a woman to prove herself worthy, not every woman has the inner strength to be able to deal with those extra political challenges. Many woman who have that strength are still ridiculed or speculated against behind close doors.
Also women need to truly be paid onthe same level as male counterparts. It's been widely surveyed that one for one men are given a higher salary if all other characteristics are equal.

posted March 1, 2008

In an era where specialization is key, our university degrees focus on generalities.

A 'Liberal Arts' education system theoretically produces more 'well-rounded' individuals, however students are forced to focus their hungry minds on subjects that hold no interest to them. Most B.S. / B.A. degrees have more credits devoted to Speech, History, & Music 101 than to the Science or Technology they purport to teach.

If we want to encourage young people to pursue careers in science & tech., we need to allow them to do so! Forcing unrelated subjects upon them merely kills their passion for the entire process!

We need to allow our students to focus & pursue their passions. Pursuing these goals will naturally force them to acquire other 'well-rounded' skills in order to advance their interests.

posted March 1, 2008

The starting point has to be around changing the way industry recognizes those who have persisted with science & tech, so that the next generation sees that as THE option to pursue. The rush to end science & tech studies after a 4 year degree course and pursue an MBA degree thereafter, has been fuelled by the demand and better status in professions, in which one can afford to forget and not apply knowledge of technology. It is so common place to find engineering students get campus jobs with salary levels comparable to their professors who would have toiled for years to get their doctoral degree. Sadly, few of the professors too (perhaps it applies more in some parts of the world) would have researched on topics that are relevant to the industry, or taken up a topic that corporates and society would gain from.

posted March 1, 2008

Start by attracting the best and brightest to become teachers of science and technology. Provide great teachers and you will motivate great students. Let's elect education President, Senators, Congressional Representatives, Governors, Mayors, etc.Read Friedman's book, "The World is Flat", if you need to understand why education of all types is necessary for the citizens of the US to be competitive in the 21st century.

posted March 1, 2008

Provide an environment that does not have borders. Have it be free, without restrictions. Great ideas have come from that mysterious space called dreams. Offer the opportunity for free thinking. And do not place it in the framework of science or technology. Rather, present the question: What if...And they will respond in ways you can not predict. The outcome will be ideas that will generate excitement for science, technology and a better life for many. Be inviting, and the juices will flow---and with inner satisfaction, more will select these fields.---Harvey A. Schwartz

posted March 1, 2008

Simple Bill, hire me to build those results. I understand the youth and I understand how to get a message out. I would build programs and foundations focused on this and make it viable.

Here is what is so. Anyone over the age of 35 is so far removed from youth it's not even funny! I am young enough to understand them and smart enough to build teams to make this happen.

I spent so much time working with old ways of thinking in Corporate America dealing with incredible people who don't have any clue what the youth markets want. You would be amazed Bill....some of the top executives at top branded companies not having any idea on how to build relationship to a never ending market.

This questionnaire is great but you are asking people who have the power to promote science and technology to their children. This isn't going to yield any answer because you have it already. You have over 2000 answers of people who speak in problems when in reality they are creating the paradigm that yields the results you are seeking to change.

Just give me one crack at this with your backing Bill. I will give you this world!

posted March 1, 2008

I believe the way “Going Green” concept is put in everybody’s mind very effectively, “Be Scientist” concept is required to be placed in every child & young person mindset. To achieve “Be Scientist” goal we need to be determined and work very effectively in four areas.

Home

In India there are says “Mother is the first teacher” and “Mother is like 100 teachers”. These types of belief show the importance of parents’ role in children’s skills, interests and values development that ultimately leads to their career.

Teaching starts from home and parents have to dedicate significant amount of time in giving right directions and teaching right values to their children. In globalized fast moving market place, it is difficult to have “Work-Life Balance” and parents are struggling (and mostly failing) to balance their professional and personal life.

Positive, Ambitious and Energetic environment within home and maintaining discipline will help to divert children’s mind in the right direction.

Government

Government should implement and effectively execute policies like No Child Left Behind, Free Education, Sponsor Girls Education, Financial Aid for Science & Technology related Courses, Free Books Program and Stop Child Labor.

Example: instead providing only cash rebate as tax relief, along with cash provide free computer/software or training to every family based on household classification. This will boost economy and give every family opportunity to improve science & technology skills.

It should coordinate with schools and colleges to improve syllabus promoting latest science & technology education, build competitive environment and encourage students to participate and win science & technology competitions, train teachers in latest development in science & technology and recruit caliber science teachers. It should provide sufficient grants to every school to facilitate latest equipments, sponsor programs and encourage research & development.
It should work close with organizations to support implementation of policies like continuous education, flexible work time, virtual organization environment to enable working from home and sponsor child development program.

These types of policies will enable parents to spend more time with children while they are working and help to develop an environment at home and outside that encourages young people to pursue career in science & technology.

Media

Due to the advancement of technology, electronic media has reached to most of the house and become a part of their day-to-day life. Most of the time media gives importance to entertainment, sports and politics. There are exceptions like http://www.pbs.org or Discovery channel (http://dsc.discovery.com) that focus on development of basic necessary skills and science education.

As mentioned in book “World is Flat” (http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/worldisflat.htm) by Thomas Friedman, in America role model for children is Britney Spears and in China it is Bill Gates. Entertainment and sports is required in your life but education in science & technology is necessary and important. To change mindset of people common media has to take self responsibility and promote more programs that encourage young people to get interest and pursue their career in science & technology.

Charity

Without generous charity it is impossible to convey this message and implement programs successfully in every part of the world that can educate and encourage people to pursue their career on science & technology.

Working Together

Key for the success to achieve this goal is that the Government, Media and Charity along with Organizations should work together and create a focused support and environment encouraging young people pursing career in science & technology.

Ashish Ghoda
http://www.technologyopinion.com

posted March 1, 2008

We need to teach applied science and technology to young people starting in Pre-K and the curriculum needs to be interactive rather than lecture-based teaching. Most school systems focus on theory, facts and figures and pay little attention to how science and technology can be used in the real world. If we start with applied learning, students will be drawn into the experience and from here we can slowly integrate the theory behind it. We need to help young people to find thier passions as they relate to science and technology. For example, my son like to play video games and he now wants to create his own games. As he learns about video game creation, he is more interested in learning about math and physics.

posted March 1, 2008

Sterotypes of pencil pushing pocket protector geeks need to be broken. Parallels between artistry, creativity and inventiveness (a scientific attribute) need to be made.

People seek to varying degrees money, fame, altruism. All but fame are easily attainable through fields in science.

National level science fairs at the undergraduate level. With serious monetary and political backing. i.e. Win and get to meet the president.

Make kids dream science -- Harry Potter meets Science Fiction

Provide more public role models.

posted March 1, 2008

Status and image count for a lot in the choice of career in young people; as does monetary reward. Make a career cool and kids will be interested in pursuing it.

posted March 1, 2008

We need to put across the Why do we need people to get interested in science & technology. What do we want to achieve and what is the purpose - broadly speaking putting a bigger picture across before talking about the means of achieveing it i.e the science and technolgoy.

Often we fail to create the real reason - and therefore the stong interest in the subject/s - or the studies persued do not have a strong fundamentals to work on.

The whys of getting into science and technology are multipying exponentially - therefore the need for putting the resons into perspective is much stronger today.

posted March 1, 2008

In addition to science, we need youngsters to appreciate the arts and pursue a career that relates to their passions not because we have a void in a certain area.

We should promote children to appreciate science and technology at a young age. Schools and Parents should take children to tech museums. Money should not be a key factor to pursue a career. Every field of study is science. The arts increase creativity. Encourage creativity and curiosity among the youth in science.

We also need people to pursue careers careers in education. We must also ask ourselves who will teach our children.

posted March 1, 2008

1. More publicity and prestige of technology achievements
2. Additional funding to "switch" the values of current western societies - more movies for the mass showing good face and prospects of a technologist’s career path
3. Open and longer term tech-standards: for ex. Doctors are more comfortable to learn human body once they’ve graduated, but software engineers are to scrap 70% of their knowledge every 3 to 5 years when new dev. platform replace older one
4. To be created culture and attitude amongst society and corporate world more mid to top level managers to be promoted after having strong background as pure technologists. Currently we can see deepening process of the opposite trend - youngsters to graduate management and to jump only at the managerial positions all the time. This creates bigger gap between “two worlds” and “two cultures”: one being “the Boss” all his/her career and other being subordinate leaf-level employee in tech all the time.
etc.....

posted March 1, 2008

The best way for any one of our kids to choose a career path is to find a passion. The best way to stimulate interest in a passion is to engage and connect them in something really powerful. Once they engage and connect, those that have the interest and the aptitude will see the possibilities. The problem is that we usually teach science and math as “fundamentals” often without showing the amazing impact they have on our daily lives. And technology is often treated as a derivative or post “fundamental” study. There is little passion in what we expose our kids to. We don’t engage our kids in the “why.” Nor do we connect them to how they could apply these studies to things that interest them. Oftentimes, kids find technology as a means to an end. Wouldn’t it be great if we could encourage them to look at science and technology as a way to the future and really engage them to explore the areas that interest or affect them today?

posted March 1, 2008

Care.

posted March 1, 2008

The first thing to do is to make college affordable to them. Keep open source software available to them, so that they can explore the tools available while they are under the umbrella of their parents. Give them assignments where they can do simple green-experiments at home without using chemicals. Give them opportunities to do problem solving...don't do everything for them with software that does everything. Give them software that needs tweaking so that they can create what they want for customization....this way, they have to 'think' and figure out how things work. Keep funding Art, Music and Literature so that they have the freedom to feel good about themselves with these other topics while they are resting their minds from all the 'science and technology' problem-solving. If school systems had only science and technology classes, students could get bored and zone out.

posted March 1, 2008