Where are we going to find the next generation of cosmetic chemists? I bet that question is not often on your mind, but it might matter – a study published October 10th, 2008, says that girls who are especially gifted in math and science often choose other career paths based on the lack of importance American culture places on math, deficiencies in the public school system, and very few women role models.

According to ScienceDaily, data reflects the fact that top mathematicians in the country are, in fact, foreigners by birth. The US is starting to let other countries fill our needs when it comes to engineers, mathematicians, scientists…and cosmetic chemists. The study shares that both girls and boys in the US find their math and science talents overlooked, or worse, discouraged. Second-generation children of immigrants from a country where math is valued are more likely to have their gifts identified and nurtured.

In younger grades, girls are often as good as or better than boys in their math classes, but upon reaching middle school, they lag behind due to peer demands and society’s attitude. By the time they reach high school, girls with this ability are likely to fall even further behind due to more social expectations and failure of schools to challenge them appropriately.
What we need to do to insure the US the future of things like the Beauty Brains Blog and the chemists that run it is to change our attitude towards math and science now – so that in the future, the brains of beauty will not be lost.

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