Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
By Anjeanette Damon (contact) 
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011 | 4:44 p.m.
Another day, another list on which Nevada ranks near last.
This time the Milken Institute’s State Science and Technology Index proves Nevada is not well positioned to make good on Gov. Brian Sandoval’s vow to drive economic development in technology and bioscience.
Overall, Nevada ranks 46th on the index that measures the states’ “science and technology capabilities, and whether they have the ecosystems for converting those capabilities into companies and high-paying jobs.”
Only Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas and Mississippi rank lower. Massachusetts tops the list.
Nevada has steadily slipped on the index since 2002, when it ranked 42nd. Last year, it ranked 45th.
Drilling further into the data, Nevada ranks dead last in the human capital category given our poor ability to turn out college graduates with advanced degrees, particularly in math and science degrees. We also rank dead last in the technology and science workforce category.
THIS is one category in which we desperately need to improve. Not just in this state, but the entire country. Think about it, we're at the bottom in a country that's near the bottom of all other developed nations.
Pretty sad. It's been over-used lately, but I hope these reports create a "Sputnik" type of response. This should be the kick in the a** that we need.
If not, we're REALLY lazy and pathetic.
Hello!!!
Earth to BRIAN!
We need to EXPAND Education, not CONTRACT it.
What on EARTH is he THINKING???
gmag, one could argue that he IS expanding it, by coming up with new ideas and not just throwing money at the same crappy programs. More money sounds great, and it almost sounds like that means it's a higher priority, but I think we need IDEAS more than money. That's why I'm disappointed in Horsford's response. I'd gladly accept a state income tax if we knew that the ideas that were in place were working, but we needed more money to do it on a larger scale. If Horsford came back and said he supported the pay for performance initiatives, but we need more money to reward the good teachers, then I'd support him. But to simply say "we need more money", isn't impressive. It doesn't show that he values education (though I know he does). It doesn't show that he put any thought into his response. It's a knee-jerk, political reaction.
When I look at CCSD, I see a big, bureaucratic entity filled with tons of waste. I have hope, though, I like the new Superintendent (so far).
Anyway, back on topic, I do think we should support our local Science teachers. Send them to conferences. Get them communicating with each other. There are some great teachers in the district, we just need more of them.
Typical - what a sh**-hole to live in - LV is essentially last in everything good and tops in everything bad.
To retain their jobs, Harry Reid and Shelley Berkeley, with the aid of Brian Greenspun and the Sun trump up all sorts of false fears and twist Obama's arm to kill the Yucca Mt. project - the only thing that actually brought engineers and scientists into the Las Vegas area. Why else would they come here - certainly not for the intellectual stimulation of living in this place.
Honestly ask yourselves - who would want to raise a family here? All of this kerfuffle for concern about a mythical farmer living in the desert who could possibly receive the equivalent of 1 chest x-ray per year, 500,000 years in the future. I sure am concerned about this guy and hope that the rest of the LV population is equally concerned and satisfied.
Harry has made certain that all of these people have left the state, leaving Las Vegas with lots of heat, no water, casino workers, waitresses and people parking cars.
Good luck my friends and thank you for voting these self-serving characters into office.
IMO, they need to do post-tenure reviews on faculty in engineering and computer science at UNLV and get rid of those that do not have a research program that includes competitive grants or publications. I'd like to know are we paying upwards of $100,000 each year to professors that haven't brought in competitive research grants and written prestigious research publications for years. If we want to improve science and technology, take inventory on our academic leaders that the state pays.
Nevada's ranking on science/technology measure provides additional support for the need to build and program the Henderson Space and Science Center
And yet, Sandoval wants to cut education?! Its the reason companies don't relocate here . . .
Don't worry parents, I'll still watch your little girl dance naked even if she can't do math.
mrb, why are you still here if LV is such crap? When I moved here 14 years ago, we hadn't reached 1M residents and I loved it. We're just starting over, so if you want to go elsewhere, please...go for it!!!!
A new SAT question. See how you do:
"Gibbons is to Sandoval as Dumb is to ____________ ."
a. Exceptional
b. Nevada Nevada
c. Tea Party
d. Dumber
e. None of the above
Hey we'll have a domed football stadium at UNLV. That has to be better than the Science and Technology Index.
gmag... the quality of our graduates is a reflection on the quality of the Professors, Staff and programs at our campuses. Funding hasn't been the problem.
UNLV and UNR are not anywhere close in quality to MIT. Do you see MIT talking about improving their school by lowering tuition?
Turrialba...the domed stadium if financed by private money.
Want more money for Public Education? Be generous, donate to:
The Public Education Foundation @ www.thepef.org