Support for Maths Science and Technology under the

Framework Programmes

Steve Parker - DG Research Directorate L – Science, Economy and Society

European Commission

Policy Background

2000 Lisbon Strategy and the ERA

2002 Barcelona Resolutions

2005 Relaunch Lisbon Strategy: Growth and Jobs

2006 The Knowledge Triangle and FP7

Reports and Surveys

2001 & 2002 Eurobarometer

2004 Europe Needs More Scientists (Gago)

2005 EIROforum: Europe of Knowledge and Innovation2006 OECD Student Interest in S&T Studies

2007 Science Education Now (Rocard)

2009 ERT: MST Education report

Key Issues

A diversity of Stakeholders/Actors:

Research organisations

Academia and Learned Society

Industry/commerce

Ministries of Education and Science

Teachers!

Key Issues

The Treaty on European Union

Can support cooperation between MS on quality of education

But MS retain full responsibility

Scale of the problem

6 million school teachers57 million young people 10-19 yr

Support for MST under the Framework Programme

Explicit support for Science Education Under Science in Society for: Informal and formal science

education in schools

Reinforce links between careers and science education

Research and coordination actions

Support for informal and formal science education

Concentrating on Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE)

techniques

2007 1.7 2

2008 4.8 1

2009 11.2 3

2010 6.75 ?

Call Budget (M€) Proposals

Total 24.456+

Project 6 Project 7 Project 8 Project 9 Project 10

Internet Based Information Platform

Monitoring group Evaluation

Service contract

Support for informal and formal science education

Concentrating on Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) techniques

2010 Work programme:

Links between science education and careers (50% funding max 4 M€)

Research on Science Education policy

Future orientations?

Will continue to support Science Education (IBSE?.....Context Based?)How to link science to other creative activities and innovation?

Research on Science Education policy

‘I really do not understand what we are doing. I just learn it by heart and do what the teacher says…

…And if you do so and smile to the teacher you will have good marks.’

Quote from school pupil

Terry Lyons: International Journal of Science Education Vol 28 n°6

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything (s)he learned in school."

Quote from Albert Einstein