Why has American society done such a bad job at getting young people inspired to go into science or engineering back in the 2000s?

[AstroCadet69]

I find it kind of sad that I don't recall anyone I knew from my public school years in an average middle class suburban part of America during the 2000s who went into science or engineering.

I don't recall anyone from my elementary school years back in the early 2000s saying they dreamed of being an astronaut let alone a scientist or engineer.

I heard the 1960s "Space Race" inspired many of the youth of America during that era to go into science and engineering and they ended up giving us the tech boom of the 1990s.

It seems like American society in the 90s and 2000s were more excited by Hollywood level wealth and materialism rather than building a better future.

The blonde girl in the video looks like a perfect representation of my generation, the "Millennials".

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

Do you know what primarily motivated the space race? Showing up the Ruskies. Let's not pretend it was some noble effort to advance humanity.

 

[Drathnoxis]

Thank capitalism. It's far more glamorous and profitable to make entertainment than it is to provide any practical or useful service to humanity or its knowledge.

 

[Satinavian]

It is because "being wealthy" was presented as the thing to strife for. At the time in America wealth was not just a means to have a good life, it was also something to be respected and admired for. It conferred social status as well.
Countries where scientists are respected and admired, didn't have problem getting people into science, even with relatively lower pay.

 

[gorfias]

It is because "being wealthy" was presented as the think to strife for. At the time in America wealth was not just a means to have a good life, it was also something to be respected and admired for. It conferred social status as well.
Countries where scientists are respected and admired, didn't have problem getting people into science, even with relatively lower pay.

I was once told that in Germany, being a technical engineer got one the type of respect and reverence there that one gets as a medical doctor here in the US. Even that profession is considered very difficult and full of sacrifice so I know people that avoided those professions for fear of that kind of difficulty. Understandable but somebody has got to do it.

 

[hanselthecaretaker2]

When we stop glamorizing celebrities and bombarding kids with messaging that makes them feel worthless unless they're rich and famous, maybe we'll start improving the perceptions of career or work choices that actually contribute to a functional society.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Were previous generations really that more inspired by science or engineering back in the good old days?