AKA Review– February 3, 2023

From The New York Times:
Understanding America’s Greatest Vulnerabilities
By Peter Coy
Developing a data-based industrial policy goes back to the founding days of the country, yet the nation has done poorly in developing a national tech strategy—one that assesses the U.S.’s strengths and weaknesses in critical technologies and innovation, including A.I. supply chains and advanced computer chips. Twenty-three leading faculty members from 13 research universities are now doing just that, exploring the feasibility of a proposed National Network for Critical Technology Assessment with a $4 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Read this article

From Inside Higher Education:
The Feminization of the Department Chair
By Nazil Kibria
While women are underrepresented among full professors and senior administrators, more than half of academic department chairs are female, with their numbers growing. This article notes that this is occurring at a time when the position is becoming more burdensome and argues that a "feminization" of the role is happening—as more women take the job, it is redefined to become lower in prestige, rewards, and authority. Read this article

From The Atlantic:
Why We Need Civics
By Richard Haass
Richard Haass, diplomat and former United States Director of Policy Planning, argues that the most urgent threat to U.S. security and stability is not China, Russia, or another pandemic, but internal political divisions and the lack of a collective national identity. He argues this can be addressed by increasing civics education from elementary school through college. While civics are often politicized, he suggests that civics courses should not try to settle historical issues but instead present facts and explain the major debates of our past and present. Read this article

From MIT Technology Review:
10 Breakthrough Technologies 2023
Three new bills investing hundreds of billions into technological development are causing a radical shift in the U.S. tech policy. This article lists ten of the most important recent technological breakthroughs and why they matter. These breakthroughs include gene editing tools expanding their reach to addressing common conditions to new telescopes creating vivid intergalactic images to lab grown and 3D printed organs produced for transplants. Read this article

From Brookings:
College enrollment disparities: Understanding the role of academic preparation
By Sarah Reber & Ember Smith
Completing a college degree is the most reliable path to upward mobility in the United States and, the rate of college completion has doubled over the last 50 years. Despite these rates of improvement, degree completion still varies substantially by socioeconomic status, gender, race, and ethnicity. This report suggests that policymakers should pay more attention to differences in academic preparation during elementary and secondary education to address these disparities. Read this article