<p>As my teacher said it, China in centuries past invented many things, but failed to see the value in following up on them. The items I remember are the rocket launcher (no joke) and the great warships of some captain who quite unChinese like, traveled the world with his fleet.</p>
<p>Sakky, I think you overestimate the opportunity in China. I read about Microsoft starting a research center, where they needed to recruit 20 kids. It went on to give tests around china, involving either tens or hundreds of thousands of students, with less and less students going on to the next round etc., for only 20 to be employed. At the end of the year I think like 8 were let go and were replaced.
There is much much more opportunity in USA. </p>
<p>Alexandre, I read in a book about class, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0671792253/qid=1120971022/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_ur_2/002-4431140-4368844?v=glance&s=books&n=507846%5B/url%5D">http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0671792253/qid=1120971022/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_ur_2/002-4431140-4368844?v=glance&s=books&n=507846</a> , in which it said that engineers are at best middle class, or high prole(tariat), in American society.
I figured publics were better represented in engineering because of the capital needed for engineering labs, and the economies' need for them, which would motivate politicians to attempt to produce more, via the public universities.</p>