Is there any evidence or research that shows that 'younger people' are
seen as better role models than older people? 

Take David Attenborough and Patrick Moore - massive young peoples
following. Surely the most important quality is to be inspiring and
engaging?

To add to Francis' comments - I was a 9 year old wanna-be marine
biologist once.... Horace Dobbs (man who studied solitary dolphins and
must have been over 50 at the time); Terry Nutkins and Johnny Morris
(born 1916) were who I looked up to. Didn't even think about their age
AT ALL - it was who they were and what they did that I was interested
in.

Lesley

Dr Lesley Paterson
Head of Public Engagement
The Royal Academy of Engineering
29 Great Peter Street
London
SW1P 3LW
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020 7227 0584
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-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Francis Sedgemore
Sent: 15 November 2006 11:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: BA Award Lectures - nominations open

Jo

It's still ageism, which is a cultural disease rife in academia and  
science as a whole that no amount of anti-discrimination legislation  
will eradicate.

As for the BA's justification for imposing an age limit for the Award  
Lectures, this mistakenly assumes that only young people can  
communicate with young people, and act as positive role models for them.

When I was at school long, long ago, I was inspired by young and  
older teachers alike, but many of the younger teachers' inexperience  
manifested itself as an inability to communicate effectively with  
their audience. I found that it was often older, more experienced  
professionals whose delivery made a greater impact, and who commanded  
admiration and respect from students. Talk to students, and you will  
discover that the same applies today.

By imposing age restrictions, the BA is not only engaging in  
discrimination, but shrinking the pool from which to choose the best  
science communicators. This makes no sense.

regards
Francis Sedgemore


On 15 Nov 06, at 11:08, Joanne Coleman wrote:

> Hi Leslie,
>
> We impose an age limit because as a secondary aspect of the Award  
> Lectures we also see them as providing positive role models for the  
> many teenagers who attend the lectures, We don't specifically state  
> this as we don't want to give the impression that people are being  
> nominated for a schools lecture - it is very much communicating  
> with a wide range of people.
>
> I did look into the age discrimination laws and couldn't find  
> anything which related to the awarding of prizes or recognition. If  
> anyone knows any different to this then please let me know.
>
> As I am sure you know, there are plenty of opportunities for anyone  
> of any age, or at any stage in their career, to get involved in the  
> Festival.
>
> Thanks
>
> Jo


--
Dr Francis Sedgemore
telephone: +44 (0)7840 191336
website: www.skysong.eu

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