BRAIN BOOM: LATINOS CAN HELP CLOSE TECHNOLOGY GAP
Encourage Hispanic youth to focus on math, science
By Richard J. Gonzalez, HOUSTON CHRONICLE

JAMES D. Spaniolo, president of the University of Texas at Arlington, has likened the current U.S. technological work force crisis to the space race of the 1950s and '60s.

The United States was caught flat-footed when Soviet scientists launched Sputnik, the first satellite to orbit the Earth. In the brain race, America rallied its schools and students to pursue math and science studies.

The crowning victory over the Soviets, celebrated across the world on television, came when Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon and planted the U.S. flag there in July 1969.

Thirty-six years later, new challengers to U.S. technological dominance have arisen across the world. In the near future, Chinese or Indian astronauts may plant their flags alongside the Stars and Stripes.

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