Sir, - The issue of the declining interest, by young people, in the physical sciences is a matter of considerable future significance for this country. Unfortunately, the issue is not one which attracts a committed public interest and it is difficult to find an effective means to achieve this. However, this issue has been recognised, confronted and is well on its way to being successfully resolved in the US.
Politicians, industrialists and science educators in America devised and implemented a long-term, science education reform programme in the mid-1990s, which is starting to show very encouraging results. So we (in Ireland) do not need to re-invent the wheel on this matter. We need to take the US model, modify and adapt it to our specific situation and get on with the task.
But this is easier said than done. A science education reform programme will be very costly - to be successful that is. I estimate it would cost close to €650 million for an initial five-year programme. I am unable to project the possible future costs beyond this time frame.
The financial costs of a reform programme are only one facet of a complex issue. There are others which also need attention. The most vexing is how to get those persons who have the decision-making power, the politicians, to put the programme into motion. Science education reform does not attract a sufficiently large number of voters - hence the low level of interest among the politicians. Science educators who are concerned enough about the situation are lobbing the politicians - but to what effect? There is a task force considering the matter: Its report is due, but will it be acted upon? Will an effective, adequately financed science education reform programme be agreed and put into effect? I remain hopeful, but not optimistic.- Yours, etc.,
Brian P. Woods MSc., School of Biological Sciences, DIT Kevin Street, Dublin 8.