National Science Board Releases Information on Breaking Down Barriers to Graduate Education

The National Science Board (NSB) recently released an informational flyer titled, “Not Going for Broke: Breaking Down Financial Barriers to Build Up a Diverse Research & Development Workforce.” The flyer states: “Doctoral students are the lifeblood of academic research and the future of U.S. scientific and technological innovation across academia, industry, and government. To maintain our global competitiveness in science & engineering (S&E), we need to reduce a major barrier for domestic students that discourages many from pursuing a STEM doctorate. Students from the Missing Millions — Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and women — as well as those from low socio-economic backgrounds, frequently have higher educational debt, greater family obligations, little to no intergenerational wealth, and have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.” The NSB recommends raising stipends and providing benefits, including supplemental funds for health insurance, parental leave, childcare, and professional development.

The NSB also released a new report this week providing the latest data on patenting, trademarks, and other measures of innovation. The report finds that U.S. innovation activities are concentrated in geographic regions, with the highest rates on the east and west coasts, around the Great Lakes, and in parts of the Southwest. The National Science Board’s Committee on National Science and Engineering Policy will meet on March 25 at 11 AM. You can watch the meeting on their YouTube channel here.