Why Do We Teach Foreign STEM Students?

"In his op-ed "Spare Harvard's Immigrant STEM Talent" (April 29) Dorian Abbot notes that, "since World War II, American national security has depended on the work of foreign scientists." British and American security depended on the work of foreign scientists during that war, not only after it. As Ian Jacob, military assistant secretary to Winston Churchill's war cabinet, reportedly said: The Allies won the war "because our German scientists were better than their German scientists." Let's hope that there is no war with China. But if there is, let's hope that our Chinese scientists are better than their Chinese scientists.

S. Paul Posner

New York

---

I agree with Mr. Abbot's basic premise. Immigrants and first-generation Americans have been extremely important to our country. We shouldn't forget that Donald Trump, whose mother was born in Scotland, is one of the few sons of immigrants to become president.

Scientific geniuses -- Enrico Fermi, Edward Teller, Albert Einstein -- were also immigrants. Yet these men and many others weren't first here as foreign STEM students. The reason we educate foreign students isn't to abduct them. Rather it is to teach and train them so that they can return to their country and share what they've learned. Let their country know what they have gleaned from us and perhaps share our values. I find myself happy to train foreign students but disappointed if they don't return home to talk about their American experience with others.

Em. Prof. M. Mark Hoffer

University of California Irvine

Long Beach, Calif." [1]

1.   Why Do We Teach Foreign STEM Students? Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 05 May 2025: A16.