Another course is the Edexcel's AS-Level in the History, Philosophy and
Ethics of Science (Perspectives on Science).
Sally Collins
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Martin Westwell
Sent: 17 July 2007 15:48
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Whatever happened to school physics?
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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