Competing in a ‘Flat World’ Economy—
CRESMET Hosts Math and Science Conference

The one-day conference hosted by CRESMET at
ASU West on October 24 brought new information
and resources to the middle and high school
counselors who can influence whether Arizona’s
students will take enough challenging math and
science to stay ahead of their global competition.

The Competing in a ‘Flat World’ Economy: Getting
& Keeping Arizona Students in the Math & Science
They Need to Succeed conference was Arizona’s first
statewide math and science conference designed to
include school counselors.

The title of the conference was a nod to the latest
book from New York Times columnist Thomas
Friedman. In “The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century,” Friedman points to the convergence of a flattened global work space and a rapidly growing, capable and intensely ambitious workforce of 3 billion people in China, India and the Soviet Union. This convergence poses sharp challenges to American education and companies, Friedman contends.

The ‘Flat World’ conference was funded as part of a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Math and Science Partnership Program for Project Pathways. The $12.5 million project to support instruction in high school math and science is led by Marilyn Carlson in coordination with school districts in Mesa, Tolleson, Chandler, Scottsdale and Tempe.

Companies and organizations sending conference participants included the Center for Competitiveness and Prosperity Research at ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business, the Arizona Technology Council, the Arizona School Counselors’ Association, Resolution Copper, Intel, Boeing, Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project, Arizona Bioscience Roadmap, the Biodesign Institute, Raytheon, the Maricopa Community Colleges, Dine College, Northern Arizona University and the
University of Arizona.

ASU presenters included Professor Gail Hackett, dean of University College at ASU Downtown, Professor Albert McHenry, acting provost of ASU Polytechnic campus, Economics Professor Dennis Hoffman, and CRESMET directors Marilyn Carlson, Pat Thompson and John Horan.

Also presenting were Judy Bowers, former president of the American School Counselors’ Association, the Arizona Academic Scholars Program, an initiative of the Arizona Business and Education Coalition, Project Lead The Way and High Tech U. Some 50 representatives of area companies, universities and colleges joined counselors and teachers for lunchtime discussions. Michael Lesiecki, executive director of the Maricopa Advanced Technology Education Center, demonstrated an interactive game engine, Questor, which his center donated to attendees.

During the conference CRESMET unveiled the Virtual Counseling Center, an interactive tool for counseling students about science and technology careers that is the first of its kind anywhere. The VCC is the work of John Horan. Explore the VCC at http://vcc.asu.edu.