(public radio transcript)
Bioscience is big business in Texas. And it's growing at a rapid clip. A study last week said the life sciences industry injected 75 billion dollars into the state's economy last year and supported well over 200 thousand jobs. But a new national report comparing science education in public schools across the country puts Texas near the bottom of the pack.

Mitch Horowitz: "Our focus is on middle and high schools, not because they by themselves can do the job, but if you don't do it right there, you miss the pipeline."

That's Mitch Horowitz with Battelle. One of the organizations that helped compile the state-by-state analysis of bioscience education in America. Using data from the U.S. Department of Education, the study ranked Texas 41st on AP science and biology scores. Texas 8th graders did a bit better, ranking 35th nationally in science tests.

Kowalski: "Well, I think it's a serious wake up call."

Tom Kowalski is the head of the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute. He acknowledges that Texas is lagging in science education but says things are improving.