Expert warns of focusing on economy in science push

THE emphasis on increasing young people’s interest in science subjects in school and college should not focus on the economic impact, an expert has advised.

The finding in a report on science education for the Royal Irish Academy calls into question the degree to which Government and industry push the creation of a knowledge economy as the reason for getting more students to pursue science degrees.

In fact, author Philip Matthews points out that there are enough students to fill third-level science and engineering courses. Dr Matthews, who works with Trinity College Dublin’s education department, compiled the report based on a survey of almost 700 transition-year and fifth-year students for the international Relevance of Science Education (ROSE) project.