Beebe Teams With ASTA To Rise Above the Gathering Storm

Thursday, Sep 6, 2007

It seemed oddly appropriate. As representatives from business, industry, education and government met to take part in “Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing Arkansans for a Brighter Economic Future,” rain pelted the capital city after an absence of nearly a month.

Inside the State House Convention Center, a different kind of thunder shook the building, those of applause as a packed house took part in a day long event to brainstorm on building and sustaining an Arkansas workforce that can meet the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) demands of business and industry in the next decade and beyond.

This unique event, co-sponsored by the Authority and the Arkansas STEM Coalition, was inspired by a 2007 report published by the National Academies. The day began with an overview of the report’s four recommendations for national implementation presented by keynote speaker Dr. Gail Cassell of Eli Lilly and Company. The recommendations are as follows.

1. Increase America's talent pool by vastly improving K-12 mathematics and science education.

2. Sustain and strengthen the nation's commitment to long-term basic research.

3. Develop, recruit, and retain top students, scientists, and engineers from both the United States and abroad.

4. Ensure that the United States is the premier place in the world for innovation.

In addition to Cassell, the event hosted a series of distinguished speakers including, Dr. Ruth Wooden, President of Public Agenda, and Mary Jo Waits, founding Director of Washington D.C based Pew Center on the States.

The day long agenda also featured panel discussions comprised of state-wide leaders in education and economic development. The focus of these panels ranged from creation of a skilled workforce and research and development, to education and philanthropy.

The highpoint of the day’s events came during lunch when Governor Mike Beebe took the stage.

“It’s all about education and economic development,” the Governor said as he began his address.

During his twenty minute speech to the capacity crowd of nearly four hundred, Beebe cited a “crying need” for more teachers, and a more educated workforce with skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

He spoke about the importance of keeping pace in a global economy. “We’re competing with India and China. We’re competing with Indonesia. We’re competing with the advancements in Europe,” he said. “The key for America is to figure out what we’re going to be doing ten years from now that nobody else has figured out yet.”

Citing the resources of education, technology, networking and collaboration, Beebe stressed that utilizing these tools was key for both Arkansas and the United States to “stay ahead of the curve.”

“We don’t have any choice,” he said. “You can’t stand still. You’re either going forward or backwards. And, I for one, don’t intent for Arkansas go backwards.”

To view Power Point Presentations presented during the day's events, click here.

To read Dr. Ruth Wooden's speech, visit publicagenda.org

Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future is published by the National Academies Press and is available for purchase online at: (http://www.nap.edu/)