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Education Matters: Best Formula for Future of Science

Posted on: Monday, 7 February 2005, 06:00 CST

Scientists believe a Midland school has hit upon the formula to prevent dwindling interest in the sciences reaching crisis point.

A unique experiment at Warwick School has got Alevel students conducting nationally important research, such as finding cures for cancer, ageing and asthma.

It aims to fire the imagination of youngsters who are deserting the sciences in droves in favour of 'soft' options like media studies.

Warwick School now wants to expand the programme across the country as an antidote to the national curriculum which it believes is 'outdated' and failing to excite pupils.

Some of the country's leading scientists are backing the grass- roots drive as a solution to averting the looming crisis that threatens to destroy Britain's competitive edge.

Scientific bodies, charities and pharmaceutical companies have also so far pledged pounds 50,000 toward it.

Dr Mo Afzal, head of science at the fee-paying school, said: 'There is a huge amount of support for this because there is not an equivalent programme going on anywhere.

'With universities losing their science and engineering departments the funding bodies are quite aware that something drastic needs to be done to inspire youngsters to take up science at university.'

Five other Midland schools - two state and three independents - are currently involved in the initiative called Science for the 21st Century.

Students in the upper-sixth spend two-and-a-half hours conducting cutting-edge scientific research every week while those in the lower sixth are taught investigative techniques.

Funding for the projects is applied for in the same way as universities, with work eventually published in scientific journals.

Warwick University is backing the Midland scheme which is intended as a model for a national roll-out linking schools to universities across the country.

Dr Afzal claimed a radical change in the way science was delivered to schoolchildren was urgently needed to reverse the downward trend in interest.

'The syllabus is so restrictive you can't expand the horizons of pupils,' he said.

'The science being taught is very old science, what we need is science that excites modern youngsters.

'The Government needs to look at a scenario where there is less emphasis on exams and the syllabus needs to be opened a bit so bright students can exercise their imaginations.'

Dr Afzal attacked the Government for failing to provide funding for the drive at a time of increased concern over the state of science in Britain. Last year, Exeter University confirmed plans to close its chemistry department. Other university science departments are earmarked for closure at Keele and Newcastle.

Ten university chemistry courses have closed in the last decade with chemistry student numbers falling from 7,490 to 5,735 since 1997.

Engineering has also suffered, with falling students forcing Aston University to close its civil engineering department.

Earlier this month, scientists in Birmingham fought back by announcing a series of free-fortnightly lectures at Millennium Point.

Warwick's scheme was praised by Sir Martin Rees, Britain's Astronomer Royal and professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge.

The internationallyrenowned scientist said: 'I think what Dr Afzal is doing is spearheading something which is very important.

'Anything that can inspire young people in science at the crucial stage is to be encouraged.'

The Royal Society, the independent body representing the country's top scientists, also applauded Warwick's innovation.

Sir Magdi Yacoub, the distinguished heart surgeon and Fellow of the Royal Society, said: 'Contact with practising scientists can really inspire young people and encourage them to consider careers in the sciences.'

Organisations contributing funding:

Royal Society of ChemistryThe Institute of PhysicsEngineering Employers FederationRoyal Academy of EngineeringRoyal Society of ChemistryOgden TrustRoyal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851Companies include AstraZeneca, Johnson Matthey, Merck Sharp & Dohme and UCB Celltech

Source: Birmingham Post; Birmingham (UK)

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