The Pied Piper's Song

If we really wished to induce the young to pursue science and engineering, we would more effectively convey its seductions. Instead of merely grinding them through the fundaments, we would also introduce some of the grand challenges and possibilities.   Here, for example, is a concept I just learned about--one which may be absolutely vital within the next 20-30 years--an attractive time horizon for current students: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reversible_computing Many other possibilities lurk on near or far horizons: the promise of nuclear fusion, of discovering the "god particle" in a particle accelerator, of building a space ladder with nanotechnology, of computational neural interfaces, autonomous vehicles, gene therapy, tissue engineering.   If we had a pied piper who knew how to sing this song...