The United States faces a major shortage of scientists because too few Americans are entering technical fields and because international competition is heating up for bright foreigners who once filled the gap. The solution is for the United States to work harder at developing its own scientific talent. But a board report shows declining interest among young Americans in science careers. The board in its report noted "a troubling decline" in the number of Americans training to be scientists and said such trends "threaten the economic welfare and security of our country." The 2004 report on indicators says the US ranks 17th among nations surveyed in the share of its 18-to-24-year-olds who earn natural science and engineering degrees. "I don't think America is getting fat and lazy," Dr. Richardson remarked. But he added that if the nation failed to make the right investments soon, "we're going to be left behind in a cloud of dust." National Science Panel Warns of Far Too Few New Scientists | 
