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March 2012:

We are delighted to report that the PhD student linked to the ASPIRES project, Billy Wong, has been awarded his PhD. Congratulations Dr Wong! Billy's thesis examined the science and career aspirations of minority ethnic young people (aged 11-14) in London, and investigated why some students, but not others, expressed aspirations towards science.

Our phase I survey found that although the majority of 10/11 year olds report doing some sort of science-related activities in their spare time (often watching science-related TV programmes), just under a quarter (23.4%) said that they 'never' do any science-related activities out of school. Specifically, over a third never read a book or magazine about science (36.6%) and never looked at science-related websites (33.8%) (compared to 18.1% who read a book/magazine and 15.4% who look at science related websites at least once a week).

Almost one in five children reported that they 'never' visit a museum or zoo (18.9%) and 'never' watch a science related TV programme (18.8%). Over a third (35.5%) of children say they watch science-related TV programmes at least once a week and just under a fifth (18.8%) were regularly engaged in science-related activities (at least once a week).

In collaboration with the Science Council, we have recently published 'Ten Science Facts & Fictions: The Case for Early Education about STEM Careers'.

Through the presentation of ten ‘facts and fictions’, we make a case for the pressing need to integrate an awareness of STEM careers into the mainstream school curriculum.  For more details, and to see a copy of our report, please click on the link above. 

Our survey found that most 10/11 year old children (approx 80%) reported doing some sort of science-related activities in their spare time – often watching science-related TV programmes, looking at websites, reading books or visiting museums. Just under a quarter (23.4%) of children said that they never do any science-related activities outside of school, and just under a fifth (18.8%) said they regularly engaged in science-related activities (at least once a week).

Our phase one survey found that at age 10/11, there is little difference between boys’ and girls’ general attitudes to, and liking of, science. However, boys are considerably more likely to be ‘very keen’ on science than girls. Of the 251 boys and girls within the survey sample of over 9,000 children who were ‘science keen’, there was a greater proportion (63%) of boys than girls (37%), suggesting that even at this young age, gender issues are emerging within children’s identifications with science.

Analysis of the phase one interview and survey data suggests that families can play an important role in shaping children’s aspirations and views of science careers. However, the ways in which families influence aspirations can be complex. 

Generally, the survey found that parents tend to have quite positive views of science and that the more positive parents are about science, the more likely children are to develop science aspirations.

The extent to which families possessed ‘science capital’ (that is, qualifications, knowledge, understanding, interest and social contacts that are related to science) was also influential. The families with the most science capital were the most likely to have children who held science aspirations.

Of course, not all families enjoy this level of ‘science capital’ – indeed, our sample indicated that the majority of families do not have specialist science-related qualifications, contacts or knowledge. Consequently, although many children enjoy doing science in and out of school, most do not see a career in science as ‘for me’ – especially when it is not a familiar career within their families and everyday life.

Implications

There is an urgent need for the science education community to work with families, particularly those from more socially disadvantaged backgrounds, to help increase their access to science-related knowledge, resources and social capital.