Another thing the Big Three drive: science education

RALEIGH -- In public discussion about government aid to the Big Three automakers, there's a far-reaching consequence to the demise of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler that's been neglected in the daily sound bites -- the impact on science and engineering in the United States.

People outside the Midwest may not know that GM, Ford and Chrysler have made the dream of a better life through education a reality for a remarkably large number of people. I know because my father grew up in a small farming town in northern Ohio, and GM made it possible for him to go to college and study electrical engineering through a co-op program.

I grew up in a Michigan town that was home to GM's steering gear division as well as to much of its central foundry division, which is where my dad worked back then. It is a town where car parts are still manufactured today. As a child, I was inspired to study math and science in no small part because this was a clear route to a good job. I've had opportunities my dad never dreamed of -- to attend the college of my choice and now to work as a math professor.

But what if there weren't many good jobs in science and engineering in the United States? What if products were all designed elsewhere? Would kids still strive to become engineers and scientists?

My family has been very fortunate in the opportunities we have had, thanks in part to the long-range vision of people at the Big Three in supporting science education.

There's been much discussion about the millions of jobs that will be lost if the car companies fail. But I also worry about the wealth of engineering jobs that the country may never be able to get back, and about the effect that losing this industry would have on the U.S. trade deficit. It's no coincidence that the two main car-producing nations in the world, the United States and Japan, are also among the wealthiest nations in the world.

Some people argue that bailing out the auto industry would lead to a snowball effect where every failing industry seeks a bailout. First off, the car companies are asking for a loan, not a bailout. But more to my point, the United States just doesn't have that many industries left in which products are still designed here, as more and more industries have moved overseas already. We cannot let another one, the biggest one yet, slip away without a fight.

The country faces great challenges right now, but in the case of the U.S. auto industry, I think there is also an important opportunity. The United Auto Workers, auto executives and the public are finally all facing up to the need for more efficiently run companies and more fuel-efficient cars. I hope Congress and the administration will give these companies the loans, or as some have termed it, the "patient money," needed to turn this industry around. As we face tough choices, I hope we also preserve educational and career opportunities in science and engineering for our kids.