[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3980]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       2004 WOMEN IN SCIENCE WEEK

  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, the degree to which our Nation prospers 
in the 21st century will depend on our abilities to develop scientific 
talent in our youth, to provide lifelong learning to a well-educated 
workforce able to embrace the rapid pace of technological change, and 
to raise the level of public scientific and technological literacy.
  That is why I am proud to announce a very exciting series of events 
taking place this week in my home State of South Dakota.
  We urgently need to upgrade American students' knowledge and skills 
across the educational spectrum, particularly in mathematics, science, 
and technology. Results of an international science and mathematics 
study conducted in 2000 indicate that ``children in the United States 
were among the leaders in the 4th grade assessment, but by high school 
graduation they were almost last.'' Part of the problem is that many 
girls and young women in junior and senior high school lose interest in 
science and technological careers.
  As we work to develop the finest scientists and engineers for the 
21st century, our human resources policy must move beyond simply the 
supply and demand of personnel and address the composition of the 
science and engineering workforce. Achieving diversity throughout the 
ranks of the scientific and technical workforce presents a formidable 
challenge; the number of women and minorities in science and 
engineering, relative even to professions such as medicine and law, 
remains low.
  We need to draw upon the full talent pool. Quality of education and 
equality of educational opportunity are central to our political future 
as well as to producing the workforce needed to maintain American 
leadership in the century ahead.
  To address this challenge, the National Weather Service Forecast 
Offices in Aberdeen and Rapid City, with the support of local and State 
agencies, schools, and businesses, are co-hosting Women in Science 
conferences in Aberdeen, Watertown, Pierre, and Hot Springs the week of 
March 8 through 13, 2004. Governor Rounds has declared that week to be 
``Women in Science Week'' in South Dakota.
  These conferences provide a forum for young women and girls to learn 
about the virtually limitless opportunities available in math- and 
science-related careers and to create personal connections with 
professional women scientists. These positive role models encourage 
young women to develop or continue to cultivate an interest in science 
and technological careers. A total of over 700 junior and senior high 
school students and teachers will attend these conferences.
  The work of all these individuals and organizations to inspire and 
mentor young women, and offer role models is crucial. My special thanks 
and appreciation go to everyone involved in this partnership--teachers, 
workers, State, local, and Federal Government, academia, and 
businesses--who will make this a successful and an inspiring 
conference.

                          ____________________