In today’s modern society, is a 16 or 17 year-old person still a child? Legally, yes, and most of us would still regard such high school age kids as just that—kids, not adults or “grownups.” So, I was amazed yesterday and today to learn about the highly advanced scientific research being performed by an elite group of “children” in high schools throughout New Jersey, USA.
I attended and was a keynote speaker at the 47th annual Monmouth Junior Science Symposium (MJSS). Here is their mission:
* To promote research and experimentation in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics at the high school level.
* To recognize the significance of research in human affairs and the importance of humane and ethical principles in the application of research results.
* To search out talented youth and their teachers, recognize their accomplishments at symposia, and encourage their continued interest and participation in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering.
* To expand the horizons of research-oriented students by exposing them to opportunities in the academic, industrial, and governmental communities.
* To increase the number of future adults capable of conducting research and development.
The presentations [PDF] that I saw were at a level far beyond what I expected. These youngsters truly are doing legitimate scientific research: they are child scientists working today. What that means is that they have an extraordinary head start toward being outstanding college students and making significant contributions to scientific and technological research sooner rather than later.
Such remarkable levels of achievement don’t come forth from a vacuum, of course. In addition to inheriting good genes, students like these are fortunate to have supportive parents, excellent teachers, and access to programs like the MJSS. Sadly, that’s true for only a small minority of American children, not to mention kids elsewhere around the world.
A truly technoprogressive agenda would work hard toward expanding the highest level of educational opportunities for young people in every segment of society and in every nation. Imagine the results!
Interesting, Mike, but ... um ... 16 and 17 year olds are definitely not children, and I’m a bit surprised to see you refer to them that way. They are young adults. I’d have been (I still think rightly) offended at that age, or even younger, if someone had called me a child.
That said, it’s certainly pleasing that we have a group who are doing such great work. Modern life being as complex as it is, it’s often difficult these days to gain expertise in anything until deep into adulthood. Many of our smartest people are close to 30, or even older, by the time they finish their initial education (with a law degree or a medical degree or a PhD). It’s actually a serious problem that there’s this disconnect between that age and the much younger age when we are entering adulthood and are ready to make decisions of consequence about our lives.
Maybe that’s a semantics question, Russell. I can’t accept the term ‘young adult’ for someone who is not actually an adult. They might be ‘adolescents’, or ‘youths’, but I think the term ‘young adult’ is simply intended as flattery to these kids. If you hang around them, you can see that their overall behavior - if not their scientific ability - is still more childlike than adult.
On the other hand, in pre-modern times, someone at 12 or 14 was more than likely expected to start taking on the roles and behaviors of an adult. I know it’s a minor point, but I still found it fascinating to contrast their social nature as kids with their accomplishments as actual scientists.
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