October 26, 2004 2:02 PM

No Benjamin, the one word is not "plastics," but "nanotechnology"
Posted by Diane Danielsonat 2:02 PM

In 1967, Mr. Robinson offered The Graduate's Benjamin Braddock one word of advice: plastics. But now some 35 years later, it seems that the word has changed, especially if the advice is given to Betty, Bianca, Billie Jean, or Bobby Sue. According to a recent article on www.smalltimes.com, if you want stability, flexibility and job security in the workplace, go into "nanotechnology" and other science specialties.

Areas such as nanotechnology require a highly trained workforce that can adapt to the challenges inherent in interdisciplinary and less traditional research. The combination of a scarcity of researchers – both men and women – with those skills, and a growing recognition that a diverse workforce better serves a diverse customer base is prompting some companies to step up their recruitment and retention efforts.

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