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should be created, according to a 16Septem-
ber report, Prepare and inspire: K-12 educa-
tion in science, technology, engineering, and
math (STEM) for Americas future.
Noting that the United States lags behind
other nations in STEM education at the ele-
In Brief The report, Tsunami Warning and Prepared-
ness: An Assessment of the U.S. Tsunami Pro- mentary and secondary levels, the report,
PAGE 346 gram and the Nations Preparedness Efforts, prepared by the Presidents Council of Advi-
recommends that the U.S. National Oce- sors on Science and Technology, also recom-
Tsunami preparedness progress anic and Atmospheric Administration and its mends improving federal coordination and
Since the devastating Indian Ocean tsu- National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program leadership on STEM education and support-
nami in 2004, the United States has made partners work to complete an initial assess- ing a state-led movement for shared stan-
progress in several areas related to detect- ment of tsunami risk, among other measures. dards in math and science. The release of
ing and forecasting tsunamis, including The report also indicates research efforts to the report coincides with President Barack
the expansion of a sensor network and improve tsunami education, preparation, and Obamas announcement of the launch of
improvements to hazard and evacuation detection. The report is available at http://www Change the Equation, an organization that
maps. However, many U.S. coastal commu- .nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12628. aims to help with math and science educa-
nities still face challenges in responding Improving science education Over the tion. More information is available at http://
to a tsunami that arrives in less than an course of the next decade, 100,000 science, www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp
hour after the triggering event, according technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and http://www.changetheequation.org/.
to a U.S. National Research Council report teachers should be recruited in the United
released on 16September. States, and 1000 new STEM-focused schools RANDY SHOWSTACK, Staff Writer