Session: Congressional Modeling and Simulation Caucus
On Monday morning, November 26, 2007, U. S. Rep. Randy Forbes (R.-Va.) led a panel discussion featuring himself and three other members of the Congressional Modeling and Simulation Caucus: Ric Keller (R.-Fla.), Bobby Scott (D.-Va.), and Tom Feeney (R.-Fla.).
Forbes spoke about using M&S to identify and react to food supply contamination. In the 1950s only 5% of U.S. food supply was imported; today it's 13.5%. 80% of fish is imported, 60% of vegetables are imported. A dairy contamination in Minnesota would take 7 days to catch with a potential $329 billion impact. Forbes says M&S is the only way we can develop strategies to protect the food supply.
Scott spoke about plans to expand M&S degree programs. He is sponsoring a bill that would authorize Department of Education funds to grant $750,000 or more to expand existing programs and start new programs. The bill is currently in committee.
Feeney talked about the Chinese engineering boom and the need to keep up. China wants a blue water navy, has shot down a satellite with a land-based laser, is developing satellite blinding and a launch capability. American space predominance is, he said, "our Achilles heel."
Keller focused on education and cooperation within the M&S industry. He said that in January 2001, he convened M&S businesses in the Orlando area and asked how to grow high-tech business. They said the need was an educated workforce.
He obtained a $5 million earmark to establish an M&S program at the University of Central Florida.
More recently he's been working on ways to increase access for low and moderate income families to college programs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Math & science majors qualify for an additional $4000 Pell grant atop the $5400 base grant.
Keller cited a Raytheon study, which applied modeling and systems engineering techniques to the nation's educational system, trying to figure out how to reach the goal of doubling the number of STEM degrees by 2015. They found that while 29% of 8th graders are interested in math and science only 6% of college graduates have STEM degrees. The quality of a math teacher is the key factor in whether a student remains interested in STEM. Keller thinks that teachers should be rewarded based on things like how many AP math students they turn out.
During the Q&A someone (Keller?) mentioned how gaming can be used to get kids interested in M&S. They invite gamers to a workshop to modify and enhance video games, and at the end of the day they tell them they were doing M&S work.
Forbes spoke about using M&S to identify and react to food supply contamination. In the 1950s only 5% of U.S. food supply was imported; today it's 13.5%. 80% of fish is imported, 60% of vegetables are imported. A dairy contamination in Minnesota would take 7 days to catch with a potential $329 billion impact. Forbes says M&S is the only way we can develop strategies to protect the food supply.
Scott spoke about plans to expand M&S degree programs. He is sponsoring a bill that would authorize Department of Education funds to grant $750,000 or more to expand existing programs and start new programs. The bill is currently in committee.
Feeney talked about the Chinese engineering boom and the need to keep up. China wants a blue water navy, has shot down a satellite with a land-based laser, is developing satellite blinding and a launch capability. American space predominance is, he said, "our Achilles heel."
Keller focused on education and cooperation within the M&S industry. He said that in January 2001, he convened M&S businesses in the Orlando area and asked how to grow high-tech business. They said the need was an educated workforce.
He obtained a $5 million earmark to establish an M&S program at the University of Central Florida.
More recently he's been working on ways to increase access for low and moderate income families to college programs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Math & science majors qualify for an additional $4000 Pell grant atop the $5400 base grant.
Keller cited a Raytheon study, which applied modeling and systems engineering techniques to the nation's educational system, trying to figure out how to reach the goal of doubling the number of STEM degrees by 2015. They found that while 29% of 8th graders are interested in math and science only 6% of college graduates have STEM degrees. The quality of a math teacher is the key factor in whether a student remains interested in STEM. Keller thinks that teachers should be rewarded based on things like how many AP math students they turn out.
During the Q&A someone (Keller?) mentioned how gaming can be used to get kids interested in M&S. They invite gamers to a workshop to modify and enhance video games, and at the end of the day they tell them they were doing M&S work.
Categories
I/ITSEC 20070 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Session: Congressional Modeling and Simulation Caucus.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://simulation.batesline.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/3310
Leave a comment