The best way to get American students to study science? Make sure there are jobs for them after they graduate. I can't speak about other science fields, but I'm an organic chemist, and I've just about given up on science. I was laid off three times in the last six years. Most of my former coworkers have similar stories - one layoff after another, moving from city to city to find work, even though we all have graduate degrees in science. Most of them have either left science or are considering it. Meanwhile, my college friends who majored in poetry or basket weaving went to work on Wall Street and are driving BMW's. Or at least got nice, stable jobs and live in nice, stable houses. They aren't moving from city to city, trying to find a job at a biotech that will last more than a year or two.