[wideminded]

A corrosive anti-intellectual culture exists in many American schools in which interest in math and science is considered "un-cool" and those who display interest in these subjects are derided as "nerds". Nothing coming out of Hollywood or shown on TV opposes this trend. It will continue to be hard to find students interested in math and science until this changes.

A space program returning men (and yes of course women and robots) to the Moon to stay and develop its resources will.

Students from a number of non-American cultures seem to develop more interest in math and science even without a space program. This can't be the only reason for going to the moon.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

There are many reasons to explore space - economic, defensive, scientific, educational and inspirational.