The United States continues to maintain a global leadership role in research and development, but some troubling trends could affect the science and engineering workforce and the U.S. economy, according to the 2004 edition of Science and Engineering Indicators, a biennial report of the National Science Board. The report was issued on 4 May. A companion message issued by the NSB notes that in preparing the report, we have observed a troubling decline in the number of U.S. citizens who are training to become scientists and engineers, whereas the number of jobs requiring science and engineering training continues to grow.