Is the U.S. doomed to wear science dunce cap?

“Regardless of nationality, as soon as a student completes the 8th grade, the clock starts ticking. From that very moment the child has approximately Two Million Minutes until high school graduation … ”

That’s the premise of a new documentary that examines the high school experiences of six students — three male-female pairs — from the United States, India and China.

In those 2 million minutes, the film shows, the cultural experiences and educational rigor of the students’ lives dramatically differ. It provides a glimpse into why the United States is falling far behind other nations, particularly in math and science.

Compared to the U.S., the film shows, China now produces eight times more scientists and engineers, while India puts out up to three times as many. Those nations, the film points out, are now the preferred locations for increasing numbers of multinational high-tech firms.

The 54-minute film was produced by Robert Compton, an American whose trips to India in 2005 and 2006 inspired him to start a blog, write a book and create the film.

“It’s really just been an astounding amount of attention on this,” said film publicist Liza Dittoe. She said the film is being screened around the nation in conjunction with states’ caucuses and primaries, in the hope that it can elevate education as a key issue in the presidential campaign.

Two Million Minutes will be shown at 5 p.m. Feb. 13 the Denver Newspaper Agency theater, 101 W. Colfax Ave. The showing, which is free and sponsored by the Piton Foundation, will have limited seating, but reservations can be made by calling Dittoe at (317) 202-2280 or e-mailing liza@dittoepr.com.

The screening will begin with hors de oeuvres at 5 p.m., followed by the film at 5:45 p.m. and a panel discussion including Compton, Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien, Colorado Education Commissioner Dwight Jones and John Barry, superintendent of Aurora Schools.

To learn more and view a trailer of the film, go to http://www.2mminutes.com/index.html.