Just following up on Barbara's point - it's already possible to do courses
like the AS Science for Public Understanding alongside science A levels and
about half of the 2000 entrants do just that (the others are non-science
students keeping up an interest or interested in the communication/social
aspects). From September 2008 they'll have the opportunity to do full A
level 'Science in Society' which has clear science communication content -
www.scienceinsocietyadvanced.org
Martin Westwell
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of barbara keating
Sent: 17 July 2007 14:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Whatever happened to school physics?
It shouldn't have to be a choice between the two.
Afterall you don't do media studies instead of english literature. Wouldn't
it be great to do a couple of science subjects and a science and society A
level in addition?
Ideally lots of students should have the option study science communcation
or science and society studies in some form, even those taking mainly
humanties or arts A levels. in fact, maybe especially those taking mainly
humanties or arts A levels!
Barbara Keating
----- Original Message ----
From: Lyndsey Clark <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, 17 July, 2007 2:00:12 PM
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Whatever happened to school physics?
Wow - very interesting thread! I genuinely don't know what to think - and
it's not often I'm agnostic on a science communication or science education
topic!
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nicola Hannam
Sent: 17 July 2007 13:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Whatever happened to school physics?
If you want to see both sides of the argument (and variations in
between) try the TES forum "Staffroom" under the science section "Downing St
e-petition" thread:
http://www.tes.co.uk/section/staffroom/thread.aspx?story_id=2395465&
path
=/science/&threadPage=2
Nicola Hannam
Education Officer
Project Manager, Careers from Science
The Science Council
32 -36 Loman Street
Southwark
London SE1 0EE
tel: 020 7922 7889
fax: 020 7922 7879
email: [log in to unmask]
www.sciencecouncil.org
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:PSCI-
[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Richard Reeve
Sent: 17 July 2007 11:51
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PSCI-COM] Whatever happened to school physics?
Science communicators may be interested in an open letter from a young
physics teacher called Wellington Grey to the DoE and AQA - 'A physics
teacher begs for his subject back'.
He says: "Over the past year the UK Department for Education and the AQA
board changed the subject. They took the physics out of physics and replaced
it with... something else, something nebulous and ill defined."
Looks like the 'science communication' tail is now well and truly wagging
the education dog:
<http://www.wellingtongrey.net/articles/archive/2007-06-07--open-letter-
aqa.html>
How did this come about? There is the 'let's save our subject and make it
more fun' argument but isn't this merely symptomatic of a much deeper long
term cultural shift in the UK?
On a science communication course back in the early nineties, we had a
session with a sociologist who patiently explained that science was nothing
but smoke and mirrors. He spoke as you might to a child who should know
better but insists on believing in Father Christmas. A lot of us thought he
was deluded and should get out more.
It seems that he did and took all his mates along to the DoE and AQA where
they are now completing the cultural devaluation in the UK of scientific
understanding, rigour and practical ability. They just don't get science.
To hear some of them you'd think it was a form of child cruelty. This hits
not just the economy and our sense of reality but also the prospects and
self-esteem of those individuals with the desire and potential to do science
and not just talk about it.
Perhaps science communication will become a sort of Cargo Cult of people
swapping fragmented shards of deconstructed science that no-one understands.
My I'm feeling grumpy.
There is a petition for what it's worth:
<http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/physicsedu/>
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