The challenge is on
28th January 2009
While getting ready for work this morning I was watching Breakfast News on BBC 1, one of their features addressed the view that science is no longer fun. The Government has gone as far as launching a campaign to turn perceptions around. Yes it may be fun for the scientists and those based at NASA and Area 51, but for school children and joe public it is reportedly quite mundane. Or is it?
I remember my science lessons, GCSE science to be exact. Although, to be honest, if science had not been a mandatory subject I would not have chosen to study it for an additional 2 years and take exams in chemistry, biology and physics. However, my memories are of fairly fun lessons with a bunsen burner and PH testers - trying to find out how acidic my thumb was.
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has taken on the challenge and will be hosting a celebrity debate and EXPO to bring together leading figures such as Sir David Attenborough and Bill Bryson, with cabinet ministers, to look at how public attitudes can be shifted from the thinking that you have to be a genius to achieve scientific success.
Science and technology are interconnected, therefore it is extremely important for the public to understand the impact science plays on their lives, along with technology. The new campaign is called “So What? So Everything“, which will highlight daily interactions with science. One of these examples is football, the campaign shows that science impacts on the making of football kits, the way the ball bounces on the grass and how the person plays the game.
I am neither for or against science, as I was much more interested in arts and literature at school and during college and university. Therefore I could certainly learn more about science and will be following the campaign with an open mind.
