W hy is it important for scientists to contribute to science
education? Our nation has failed to meet important educational
challenges, and our children are ill prepared to respond to the
demands of today?s world. Results of the Third International
Mathematics and Science Study ( TIMSS )--and its successor,
TIMSS-R--show that the relatively strong international
performance of U.S. 4th graders successively deteriorates across
8th- and 12th-grade cohorts. Related studies indicate that U.S.
PreK-12 curricula lack coherence, depth, and continuity and
cover too many topics superficially. By high school,
unacceptably low numbers of students show motivation or interest
in enrolling in physics (only one-quarter of all students) or
chemistry (only one-half). We are rapidly approaching universal
participation at the postsecondary level, but we still have
critical science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) workforce needs and too few teachers who have studied
science or mathematics. Science and engineering