美国理工专业回暖

　　2005年攻读科学与工程专业研究生的美国学生数量达到历史新高，让哀叹美国人对科学不感兴趣的决策者和企业总裁们看到了一线希望。

　　The number of US students going to graduate school for science and engineering hit an all-time high in 2005, offering a glimmer of hope to policymakers and business chiefs who have lamented that Americans are not interested in science.

　　美国国家科学基金会(National Science Foundation)的最新调查显示，入读科学与工程研究生课程的美国公民和永久性居民人数增长了2%，达到创纪录的33.955万人。

　　A new survey conducted by the National Science Foundation shows that enrolment of US citizens and permanent residents in science and engineering graduate programmes increased 2 per cent, to a record 339,550.

　　调查还显示，继前3年下降之后，今年外国学生的入学率首次增长4%。不过，就读这些学科的外国学生总数下降3%，为连续第二年下降。

　　The survey also showed a 4 per cent rise in first-time enrolments by foreign students, following three years of decline. However, total enrolment of foreign students in those subjects dropped 3 per cent - the second year in a row with a decline.

　　美国科学促进会(American Association for the Advancement of Science)研发预算及政策项目主管Kei Koizumi表示，此次调查的结果 "喜忧参半"。

　　Kei Koizumi, the director of the R &D budget and policy programme at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, called the survey's findings "mixed".

　　"多数决策者表示，好消息是，攻读科学与工程专业的美国人似乎越来越多，"他表示。"但外国学生数量下降，不管是因为实际存在或人们感觉中的签证问题，还是因为学生发现在其它国家读书更具吸引力，这都(令人沮丧)。"

　　"The good news, according to most policymakers, is that it appears Americans are going into science and engineering in greater numbers," he said. "But the drop in foreign students - whether it's because of real or perceived visa problems, or because students find it more attractive to study in other nations - is not as [encouraging]."

　　9·11恐怖袭击后，美国国务院对外国学生实施限制，此后，来自国际学生的申请数量有所下降。

　　Applications from international students fell after the State Department imposed restrictions on foreign students in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

　　软件公司甲骨文(Oracle)主管政府及公共事务的副总裁罗伯特o霍夫曼(Robert Hoffman)表示： "(美国的)大学院校能否招到全世界顶尖的人才，唯一最大的挑战在于我们的移民体系。"

　　"The single biggest challenge for colleges and universities being able to recruit top talent from around the world is our immigration system," said Robert Hoffman, the vice-president of government and public affairs at Oracle, the software company.

　　"该体系对招生工作来说是个障碍。它所表达的意思是：你或许能在美国大学里获得一流教育，但你毕业后可能无法在美国公司里找到一份好工作。"

　　"The system is working as a barrier to recruitment. It's saying: you might be able to get a top-flight education at a US university but you might not be able to get a top-flight job at a US company after you graduate."