Advantages and Pitfalls of U.S STEM Immigration Reform Act

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Last Friday the House of Representatives at US Congress had shown a green signal to the most conspicuous STEM act with a partisan vote of 245 to 139. Among the 245, 218 are republican while 27 Democrats supported the bill. While 134 democrats voted against the bill with five more republicans support. As per STEM act, foreign students who have achieved highest degrees from USA universities in Science, Engineering, Technology and Math majors will be given Permanent Visa or Green cards to be permanent residents of USA. Well, when you hear it sounds actually good, but there are some pitfalls of this act. Let’s have a look:

Advantages:

• Economic growth and job creation
• American employers can hire talented foreign students who are previously turned down due to Visa issues and joined to other global competitors
• Such green card holders will have the right to start companies and create more jobs
• This green card can help the resident to bring their spouse or children permanently into U.S after they make 1 year in the green card wait-list
• America will be the major hub for science and technology in future

Pitfalls:

• To avail green cards for STEM graduates, STEM act will eliminate the diversity visa program or “green card lottery”, now available in US immigration law. As per the diversity program, each year USA government gives permanent visas or green cards through a lottery to 55,000 immigrants. Now with STEM act, these 55,000 DE-allocated green cards will be reallocated to STEM graduates.
• STEM act excludes majors like Arts, Literature, Journalism, Business and Management which are now most of demanding subjects around the world.
• India, Pakistan, China and several other countries don’t come up under the diversity program. So we really doubt whether these green cards will be available for students from these countries. 
• Apart from the above, more than 50% of African immigrants to USA will be affected by STEM.

Criteria for PhD or Masters Degrees Qualifications

• STEM graduates who have received a doctorate or a two years masters degrees from an eligible U.S. university in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or the physical sciences (other than biological sciences) are eligible for STEM green cards. Masters degree students will also have to have a college major with a STEM field.
• Students who have completed their complete coursework (internet courses) in USA with a physical presence are eligible.
• You’ll be eligible if you’re petitioned by an employer who has gone through labor certification and willing to hire you in case of insufficiency of American candidates

Know more about STEM act at U.S House of Representatives Site here.

What’s there for Indian Students in STEM act?

Well, the law is same for everyone and talented students who achieve masters or doctoral in one of the STEM fields are surely eligible for Green Cards. About the diversity program, India is not eligible to be a part of the program due to high immigration rates and also several other Asian countries are on the same side.

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Science is a Boon or Bane

Today, the comfortable life we are all leading is because of science, right from the machined that we use at home appliances to the technology that runs satellites; everything is a miracle of science. All the appliances that we are using the technology that is helping us connect to the people of the world. Everything is a boon of science; we can hardly imagine life without science.

Science is definitely good and has done lot good to the humans. It has made our life comfortable and easy. Today we are able to find so many medicines, vaccines, and cure for so many diseases, it is because of science. Science has helped us to reach the moon and know the depths of the universe. In each and every area of our life science is playing known or unknown role. But yet most of the times useful role. It is because of science that we are able to detect the earth quakes, tsunamis and other natural calamities and are able to save the lives of many.

But, as with everything else, there have been some negative results of the science on us and on the society and nature as a whole. Because of the too much dependence on machines, and too much of usage of appliances at home and outside, there is a severe release of poisonous gases into the atmosphere, that is causing severe damage to the ozone layer, and indirectly to the life on the earth. On top of that the radiation that is caused because of waves because of signal towers (cell), T. V and other similar items is posing severe health problems to the humans, and is leading to new diseases, that are proving to deadly.

Science is used to manufacture nuclear bombs and deadly tools for destruction, it is becoming a deadly tool, in the hands of few, sick people. Using of chemicals either for fertilizers or for humans in the form of medicines is proving fatal. Too much of usage of chemicals is making land fertile and humans sick. So, is science boon or bane, is it the cause for better life or is it the root cause for all the present problems? Well, question is yet to be answered.

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Space Missions are a Wastage of Resources for a Resource-Starved Nation like India

There are definitely some uses of space missions. Sending satellites and other space related activities. If so many countries in the world are spending some billions and trillions of money on space missions it is because they are able to visualize the benefits and the future needs of the people. Today we are able to know the weather forecast, and many other things that are directly or indirectly linked with the space missions it is because of them.

Whether forecast is necessary for farmers and those who go into the sea. There are many other technological benefits of these space missions that we as a common man do not know. Many countries in the world, advanced countries, have gone far in research and in advancement in other fields because of these space missions. We need not compete with them but to help our country progress, and for the development of the people and the country. We definitely need space missions to the extent we need them.

Looking at the other side, there are many other factors that need to be addressed in the country. Many people suffering from lack of health facilities, lack of education. Financial needs to be addressed. In fact if we take a closer look at the needs of our country and the needs of the people. So many of them still striving hard to fulfill their bare needs, if we think from this angle definitely space missions are not out priority. And it is also valid if we feel that we are wasting lot of money on these space missions unnecessarily.

But, as with everything else, we need to prioritize, we can spend money on space missions, if we think that these will help people and common man in a huge way and help in the development of the country. But, spending money on the space missions, neglecting the bare needs of the people is not at all good.

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Higgs boson - A Key to understand Universe?

Higgs boson or Good Particle or the missing cornerstone of physics, whatever you may call it but the discovery made by the six thousand scientists is something that can define many mysterious persist in the world and universe.

In  a layman language, the finding of a particle that exists in matter, that took around 40 years to know its present scientifically. According to media reports, the finding will help understanding the universe and its creation. It will also decode the mystery that is centering around the 'dark matter' in the universe.

The discovery is not only help these but also help the society and the world in many ways. In the health sector, it may help find better medicines and best solutions to health ailments, as reported by media last night. And this could also help more advancement of internet and cyber-world. The discovery will be a bliss if at all it serves and implemented towards the betterment of mankind.

It is the result of the years of experiment and hard work done by the scientists across the world to find the God particle. Higgs boson is the biggest ever discovery in the world. Now the scientists are very near to decode many mysteries around the universe. 

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India to join International Space Station: NDTV.com

India got invitation to contribute in the International Space Station project.

ISRO Chairman Dr K Radhakrishnnan informed in an interview to NDTV that India would contribute instruments, but no plans yet to send Indians to the space station.

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