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What if...more people played with science?

03/10/2003

"By using science fiction to harness the imagination, we can explore science and its influence on us."

Supported by a £33,056 Learning award from NESTA, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, the University of Glamorgan's Centre for Astronomy and Science Education (CASE) is hosting a week of one-day conferences for children to ponder a series of 'what if...' questions.

The conferences - exploring scientific concepts within the creative environment of science fiction - are the brainchild of CASE's Professor Mark Brake and Rosi Thornton, a researcher who was herself initially put off science by the 'dry and dusty' way the subject is tackled in schools.

"Children as young as eight now say they are already turned off science, thinking it's just about dull men in white coats. To them, science is remote. Science fiction seems more relevant because it examines the implications for humanity," says Rosi Thornton.

Each of the five conferences, in June 2004, will be attended by 100 Welsh students considering their GCSE choices. The project aims to tackle the notorious decline in young people's interest in science at this age and inspire students to respond creatively to scientific ideas.

Rosi Thornton adds: "If a comet had not hit the Earth so many millions years ago, dinosaurs may still be alive today. If amino acids had not developed as they did, intelligent life may never have evolved. These questions lead to a discussion about what it takes for life and the planets to evolve, and what a difference the slightest change could have had on the world as we know it today."

Professor Brake says: "By using science fiction to harness the imagination, we can explore science and its influence on us. It's not always about right and wrong - the true nature of science is still indeterminate and science fiction illustrates this very well."

Professor Brake and his team have already worked with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority on ways to incorporate science fiction into the GCSE syllabus. And CASE attracted world-wide attention for its ground-breaking science fiction course for undergraduates and for its course considering the possibility of extra-terrestrial life.

CASE believes the popularity of science fiction should be embraced and used to encourage more people to choose careers in science and technology. More than that, Professor Brake says: "Science is in crisis as people are now so sceptical. But we believe everyone should have some understanding of science, regardless of whether they want to pursue it as a career. As the saying goes, science is too important to leave it to the scientists."

NESTA Learning Director Gareth Binns said: "We are always seeking fresh ways to make science relevant and accessible to young people so we are delighted to support CASE's latest initiative."