Why better science education is needed

Every day, our society depends more and more on science and technology. This is not only due to our personal convenience, which often relies on internet access, electric power of just basic things like clean, drinkable water from the tap. The great challenges we all face together, such as global warming and demographic developments, demand us to (re)search for new answers.

At the same time, Europe is confronted with a declining interest in science and technology, especially among teenagers. Who will find the best way to make smart and sustainable use of our resources? Who will work on new technologies to speed up the traffic on digital highways? Who will look for better solutions in healthcare or to ensure a high quality of drinking water anywhere in the world? Many governments around the globe have therefore recognized the need to raise young people's interest in science and engineering.

However, the problem is not just limited to an alarming low numbers of science students at universities. As a matter of fact, today only a small minority understands the technologies that our society is so depending on. As a result, the general public is often disengaged from the discussion about the responsible use of current and future technologies. In a society based on democratic principles, this clearly is a dangerous situation. Who will set the direction and boundaries for research and development? On what basis will citizen decide for or against a specific science policy or a consumer product? Without a basic understanding of scientific facts and reasoning, the public as well as the individual consumer can be easily mislead.

The best place to raise young people’s interest in sciences is at school. That is where most people develop their personal relationship with this subject. However, instead of fostering the natural curiosity of children, secondary schools often are found to be the place where students lose their interest in sciences. Experts researching the origin of this situation recently reported that this mainly due to the way science is taught [Rocard Report 2007 copy doc and link].

Although it is commonly accepted that student centered teaching methods yield better results, teachers often choose the traditional 'chalk and talk' approach. Teachers are experts in pedagogy and education, so why would they oppose modern didactic methods? Usually they don't, but the increasing demands on their work does often not allow for spending time on advanced teaching methods. Much time is spent on the implementation of reforms for their educational system, and on social needs of students that require attention. National curricula stipulate that a high amount of facts is taught in a short time. The often observed lack of science teachers causes teachers from other subjects to give lessons about topics they are not well acquainted with.

We therefore believe that the best way of improving science education is to support teachers. By providing them free-of-charge with up-to-date educational material, the Photonics Explorer will make it easier to apply modern teaching methods. Teachers will save precious time in collecting and processing material for their lessons, and they profit directly from the experience of their peers from all over Europe - to the benefit of their students.

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Fast Answers

What is it all about?

The Photonics Explorer program will equip Europe’s secondary schools with up-to-date educational material on topics related to light and its technical use. The Photonics Explorer provides teachers with a class-set of components for hands-on experiments together with an inquiry-based didactic framework. It will be distributed free-of-charge and support teachers to engage, excite and educate students about the fascination of working with light.

What is photonics?

Photonics is the art of making light work for you. Just as electronics has changed the world by turning electrons into our every-day workhorses, photonics has changed our way of living by harnessing photons, small energy-units of light. We use them to carry information around the globe (e.g. for the internet), to generate electric energy, to detect diseases and heal, to cut and weld metal, to measure without touching or simply to read when it's dark outside. From the generation and shaping of light, to the transportation to its destination and its exactly controlled impact, photonics encompasses all aspects of handling electromagnetic radiation.

Why is it needed?

As more as teenagers like to possess and use the latest technological gadgets, as less they seem to be interested in what actually happens behind the user interface. At the same time, our society and everyone individually becomes increasingly dependent on science and technological progress. This raises the questions: Who is going to work on the scientific answers to the challenges we face as a society? How can we motivate young people to engage in the informed discussion about steering the efforts of scientists and the responsible use of technology?

The best place to raise young people’s interest in sciences is at school. Teachers play a key role in encouraging the next generation of scientists and engineers. The Photonics Explorer program therefore aims to support teachers in their efforts to make science an exciting and fun subject, while giving students a clear understanding of physical concepts and showing their relevance to the student’s every-day life.

For whom?

The work in this program is done for school kids. To make them experience the fascination of working with light first-hand, the Photonics Explorer will equip teachers for more engaging and exciting science lessons.

Who are we?

The Photonics Explorer program is teaming up teachers, scientists in pedagogy and experts in photonics to design an intra-curricula educational kit for secondary schools. More than 30 educators from 10 countries volunteer their time and expertise to ensure a high educational value and an easy integration of the material into the regular teaching.

This educational program is actively supported by sponsoring companies from several European countries.

The program is coordinated at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium) and scientifically evaluated by the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education in Kiel (Germany).

How can I get involved?

The Photonics Explorer program builds on the enthusiasm of many volunteers that donate their time and expertise to improve science education in Europe. There are several ways you too can get involved, and each support is appreciated: