The State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2022
January 2022
The United States has a key position in the global science and engineering (S&E) enterprise. As S&E capacity has increased globally, the U.S. position has changed despite increases in the absolute amount of S&E activity in the United States. Although the United States was key in the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines, the data in this report show the U.S. S&E enterprise could be strengthened. The data reveal capacity-building areas in the U.S. S&E enterprise in the STEM education system and STEM workforce, R&D investment, and innovation activities.
Continue Reading >Higher Education in Science and Engineering
November 2023
Higher education in science and engineering (S&E) develops the talent that sustains the U.S. S&E enterprise. This report describes U.S. undergraduate and graduate education in S&E and S&E-related fields with international comparisons. The number of S&E certificates and degrees awarded is increasing, as is the share of all degrees awarded in S&E fields. Representation of women varies by S&E field, and some racial and ethnic groups remain underrepresented in S&E degree attainment. The United States is among the top countries in awarding S&E degrees and S&E graduate enrollment of international students has increased rapidly since 2020.
Continue Reading >Elementary and Secondary STEM Education
October 2023
Elementary and secondary STEM education is the foundation for student entry into postsecondary STEM majors and occupations. This report presents national trends in Kâ12 student achievement in STEM and compares U.S. STEM achievement with that of other nations. The report shows that student achievement in mathematics, which had already plateaued for the past decade, has now regressed approximately 20 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. A pre-pandemic international assessment of mathematics and science in 2019 shows that eighth graders in the U.S ranked about in the middle of education systems in countries with advanced economies.
Continue Reading >Academic Research and Development
October 2023
Academic institutions in the United States contribute considerably to U.S. basic research. The federal government funds over half of academic research and development (R&D), but its share of support has declined while the share funded by institutions has grown. Academic R&D spending remains concentrated in very high research activity institutions, which train most U.S. science and engineering (S&E) doctoral students and employ most S&E postdoctoral researchers (postdocs). This report presents data on funding by source and S&E field for R&D activities and equipment and provides information on research space. The report also benchmarks the United States against other nations and discusses trends on the demographics of the academic workforce and on investments in the training of students and postdocs.
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