What is science? Depending on who is asked, it may mean the pursuit of knowledge, explanations of the everyday world, a difficult subject at school, or a field populated by larger than life characters such as Einstein, Feynman, or Hawking. For the author, science has been and remains an unexpected journey, an adventure and an ever-changing career.…

EngineeringUK estimates that the UK will require 87,000 new engineers a year over the next ten years. However, with skills shortages threatening to derail the UK's engineering industry, it is clear that immediate action needs to be taken if this quota is to be met. In this article, Vincent English, managing director of Vernier Europe, offers his…

One of the things that this author enjoys most about working at the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is the science that she finds out about and the researchers she meets. Having loved science throughout school and then on into university, the author is always keen to learn more. The increase in citizen science projects over the last…

How can pupils and parents be engaged in science? This author describes holding an astronomy evening with Dr. Johanna Jarvis to coincide with the BBC's "Stargazing Live." The author briefly shares an account of the success of this first of many evening events. Engaging pupils in science at an early age has the potential to change social…

Keira Sewell has just finished her second year as a Challenge Leader for the Faraday Challenge, a STEM-based scheme run by the Institution of Engineering and Technology. Aimed at 12-13 year-old students, its purpose is to engage students in future careers in engineering. Each year, a new challenge is held in over sixty schools and universities…

The Professor Harry Messel International Science School is organised by the Science Foundation for Physics within the University of Sydney. In 1968, the Foundation extended the participation to the UK and Japan and each country sends five scholars to the Science Schools, which are held every second year. Nowadays, scholars from Singapore,…

This article reports the main findings from a Review commissioned by the Wellcome Trust into science in primary schools. On the basis of those findings, it is argued that the current approach to primary science and the drive to raise standards in literacy and numeracy are turning pupils off science in primary schools, the fallout of which can be…

Elaborates on the previous article by highlighting the need to find ways to encourage young people to take up science careers. Presents some guidelines for selling science to girls and includes personal profiles of real scientists to humanize them to students. (NB)

Presents a summary of recent trends in enrollments in the major subjects (with an emphasis on the sciences) offered in British secondary schools. (JR)

Introduces the Science and Engineering Ambassadors scheme (SEAs) which aims to increase the awareness and participation of young people to science, engineering, and technology. Creates opportunities for young people to interact with working scientists and engineers to encourage them in these subjects. (YDS)

Discusses the value of work experience for A-level students and describes some novel student placements. (JRH)

Describes major aspects of the Pupil Researcher Initiative, a curriculum development project aimed at encouraging pupils, teachers, researchers, and the wider community to work together to stimulate interest and enthusiasm for science and engineering. (JRH)

Presents a reminiscence of science as an exciting and enjoyable area of the curriculum. Expresses the concern that pressures of the National Curriculum and overload may be forcing teachers into a knowledge-based subject to the detriment of the development of science process skills and attitudes. Makes a plea to get back to the reminiscence of…