Журнал исследований и разработок в области медицинского образования

Minority Students and STEM Careers: Will Mentoring Help?

Abstract

Srinivas Pentyala, James Dilger, Mario Rebecchi

Science is critical to the progress of humanity through its unveiling of the intricate processes that co-mingle in different aspects of life. Particularly, the next generation of citizens will carry a burden of scientific uncertainties that will require the breaking of new frontiers, discovery and invention for the very survival of humanity. Discrimination based on economic, social and racial status in the imparting of scientific knowledge, burdens society and slows the progression of scientific knowledge. Despite these challenges and the preeminence of the US in scientific research, US high school students continue to lag behind students from many other nations including those from newly emerging economies, particularly in international tests of scientific knowledge.