With Good Reason

In 2009, fewer than 2% of physical science degrees—like physics and chemistry—went to African-Americans. Considering African-Americans make up 12% of the U.S. population, these numbers are shockingly low. And they’re getting even lower. In the second episode of our ongoing series about STEM education, we ask: what does a scientist look like? Short, tall, black, brown, male or female? We talk to Lindsey Kraatz, Sam Lake, Daniel Maxey, and Stephanie Salisbury about their outreach project at William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science. We also hear about what might be keeping American girls out of laboratories, and Laura Puaca (Christopher Newport University) explains the WWII history of Edna the Engineer.

To boost performance in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), the White House has launched an “Educate to Innovate” campaign, and it even held the first White House Science Fair. In this series on STEM education in America, With Good Reason is asking national policy experts, educators, and innovators why STEM matters and why women and minorities are being targeted. We talk with Linda Rosen (Change the Equation) about changing how we teach, Robert Tai (University of Virginia) about the origins of the acronym S-T-E-M, Leanna Giancarlo (University of Mary Washington) on the “mad scientist” stereotype, and Sevan Terzian (University of Florida), who says it all begins with—what else?—Sputnik.

National interest in the spiritual practices and beliefs of our presidents is as strong as ever. In his new book, The Faiths of the Postwar Presidents, David Holmes (College of William and Mary) looks at the role of religion in the lives of the twelve presidents who have served since the end of World War II. He also shares little-known anecdotes, such as Dwight Eisenhower’s effort to conceal his family’s Jehovah’s Witness background. Also featured: When Abraham Lincoln drew his last breath, his Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, famously said “Now he belongs to the ages.” Allen Guelzo (Gettysburg University) says the ages haven’t always been kind to the reputation of our 16th president. Guelzo, the author of eight books on Lincoln, delivered the keynote address at Christopher Newport University’s Center for American Studies.

Brigham Young was a rough-hewn transient from New York whose life was electrified by the Mormon faith. He married more than 50 women, and transformed a barren desert into his vision of the Kingdom of God. In his new biography Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet, John Turner (George Mason University) explores Young’s thirty-year battle with the U.S Government for the control of Utah, his polygamous marriages, and his role in the massacre of settlers who came out west. Also featured: Since 1950, the South has undergone the most dramatic political transformation of any region in the United States. In their new book Quentin Kidd (Christopher Newport University) and co-author Irwin Morris show how the once solid Democratic-South is now overwhelmingly Republican, and African Americans are now voting at levels comparable to those of whites.

National interest in the spiritual practices and beliefs of our presidents is as strong as ever. In his new book, The Faiths of the Postwar Presidents, David Holmes (College of William and Mary) looks at the role of religion in the lives of the twelve presidents who have served since the end of World War II. He also shares little-known anecdotes, such as Dwight Eisenhower’s effort to conceal his family’s Jehovah’s Witness background. Also featured: When Abraham Lincoln drew his last breath, his Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, famously said “Now he belongs to the ages.” Allen Guelzo (Gettysburg University) says the ages haven’t always been kind to the reputation of our 16th president. Guelzo, the author of eight books on Lincoln, delivered the keynote address at Christopher Newport University’s Center for American Studies.

EngineeringChange by withgoodreason

If the inventor of radio had not been so stubborn, perhaps 1,600 souls would not have perished when the Titanic sank in the icy Atlantic 100 years ago. Bill Kovarik (Radford University) looks at the history of radio and its effects on American politics and popular culture. Also featured: Local sports segments have been a mainstay on television news for decades, but they might be disappearing. Former sportscaster Jeff Halliday (Longwood University) recently surveyed network-affiliated TV sports personnel across the country and found a bleak picture—one that includes fewer jobs, reduced air time, and lots of anxiety.