As mentioned above, I heard Dambisa Moyo speak this week. I wanted to hear her speak on international aid which she covered beautifully in the pre-event discussion hosted by The Eleos Foundation. Her main talk, in Campbell Hall, was on her new book which focuses on U.S. economics. I was wondering why I was spending a sunny Sunday afternoon away from my family to listen to her when she managed to take my two favorite causes, education reform and global development, and marry the two.
Moyo stated that the single most important issue to U.S. economics is our slipping performance in math and science. In one generation, we have gone from the #1 country with the most college graduates to #12. Not only do we need to maintain our position as the most innovative country in the world for our own economy's benefit, but innovation is what is needed to solve problems like poverty and energy efficiency.
By 2042, U.S. minorities will be the majority. However, we are failing to educate our minorities, especially in math and science. "We are ceading our power due to lack of innovation, due to lack of education." The world needs the U.S. to maintain it's position as the lead innovator to help our global community.
So my African born global development speaker, who was really an economist, ended up speaking about U.S. Education Reform.
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