Twenty-six of the UK’s top scientists and science educators including among them three Nobel laureates; Richard Dawkins, former professor for the public understanding of science at the University of Oxford; TV presenter Adam Hart Davis; and science education experts James Williams and Revd Professor Michael Reiss, have called on the Government to make vital changes to the new science curriculum proposed for primary schools in England.
The new curriculum, which has been proposed by a government commissioned review, was put out to a public consultation which closed last week. The government will now consider the responses made and make final decisions about the content of the curriculum in the autumn.
A joint letter has been written to Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which seeks a number of changes, including that the curriculum should cover evolution and natural selection and that it should make reference to the sense of fulfillment that the scientific endeavour can inspire and the use of science in equipping pupils to engage in important public discussions about scientific issues.
The letter was organised by the British Humanist Association, which promotes a rounded curriculum including good science education as part of its educational mission.
Andrew Copson, BHA Director of Education, said, ‘Science is not only key to understanding the world around us, but it is also vital for democratic citizenship. Without an understanding of key concepts people can not properly engage with public debates around the scientific and technological topics which will directly affect their lives. The primary curriculum needs to prepare children for this reality.’
Commented specifically on the question of evolution, Mr Copson said, ‘The wealth of colourful and engaging resources that explain evolution and natural selection to under 11 year olds demonstrates how easily children of this age can be introduced to these important scientific concepts. It is in no way too early an age at which to do that, especially when so much of popular culture conditions young children into a way of thinking that is not scientific. In fact, it is vital that children build understanding of these concepts early so that they can form a sure foundation for greater scientific understanding later in the curriculum.’
‘The curriculum currently being drafted will apply for years to come so it is vital that this long-standing omission of evolution is corrected now.’
For more information contact Paul Pettinger at the British Humanist Association on 020 7462 4993.
Professor Sir Tom Blundell FRS FMedSci is Sir William Dunn Professor of Biochemistry and head of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge.
Paul Braterman is Professor Emeritus, University of North Texas and Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Chemistry, University of Glasgow.
Professor Richard Dawkins FRS is the former Professor for Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University and a prominent broadcaster on science.
Professor Sir Anthony Epstein, CBE, FRS, hon FRSE, FRCP is former Professor of Pathology, and Head of Department at the University of Bristol.
Professor Robin Dunbar FBA is Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Oxford.
Professor R. John Ellis FRS is professor at the department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Gairdner International Award Winner 2006, Cell Stress Society International Medal winner 2008.
Dr Dylan Evans is Lecturer in Behavioural Science in the School of Medicine at University College Cork.
Sir James Gowans CBE FRCP FRS was Henry Dale Research Professor of the Royal Society at the University of Oxford
Adam Hart-Davis is a prominent broadcaster on science and technology.
Professor Robert A Hinde CBE FRS FBE is Emeritus Royal Society Research Professor of Zoology at the University of Cambridge and former master of St. John's College, Cambridge.
Sir Tim Hunt FRS is a Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine.
Professor Hugh Huxley FRS MBE won the Royal Medal in 1977 and the Copley Medal in 1997. He was Professor of biology at Brandeis University.
Professor Steve Jones is professor of genetics and head of the biology department at University College London.
Professor Sir Hans Kornberg FRS is professor of Biology at Boston University and former Master of Christ's College, Cambridge.
Professor Sir Harold Kroto FRS was joint 1996 Nobel laureates in Chemistry.
Professor John Lee is consultant histopathologist at Rotherham General Hospital and clinical professor of pathology at Hull York Medical School. He has also broadcast and science and medicine.
Sir Paul Nurse FRS is a Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine and President of Rockefeller University.
Revd Professor Michael Reiss FIBiol, FRSA is Assistant Director and Professor of Science Education at the Institute of Education, University of London.
Sir David Smith FRS FRSE is former Principal of Edinburgh University (1987-1994), former President of Wolfson College, Oxford (1994-2000) and was awarded the Gold Medal for Botany of the Linnean Society in 1989.
Professor Sir Kenneth Stuart FRCP is a former adviser to Commonwealth Secretariat, London; Professor and Head of Department of Medicine, University of the West Indies, Jamaica; consultant, University Hospital, Jamaica; and consultant advisor to the Wellcome Trust.
Sir Fraser Stoddart FRS, FRSE is professor of Chemistry, Northwestern University
Sir John Sulston FRS is Chair, Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation (iSEI) at the University of Manchester
Professor Sir David Weatherall FRS is Chancellor of Keele University, former Professor of Haematology, former Nuffield Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Oxford and former Regius Professor of Medicine.
James Williams FIBio CSciTeach is Lecturer in Science Education at the University of Sussex.
Professor Raymond Tallis FMedSci is Emeritus Professor of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Manchester.
Professor Lewis Wolpert CBE FRS is Emeritus Professor of Biology as applied to Medicine, University College London.
The new curriculum, which has been proposed by a government commissioned review, was put out to a public consultation which closed last week. The government will now consider the responses made and make final decisions about the content of the curriculum in the autumn.
A joint letter has been written to Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which seeks a number of changes, including that the curriculum should cover evolution and natural selection and that it should make reference to the sense of fulfillment that the scientific endeavour can inspire and the use of science in equipping pupils to engage in important public discussions about scientific issues.
The letter was organised by the British Humanist Association, which promotes a rounded curriculum including good science education as part of its educational mission.
Andrew Copson, BHA Director of Education, said, ‘Science is not only key to understanding the world around us, but it is also vital for democratic citizenship. Without an understanding of key concepts people can not properly engage with public debates around the scientific and technological topics which will directly affect their lives. The primary curriculum needs to prepare children for this reality.’
Commented specifically on the question of evolution, Mr Copson said, ‘The wealth of colourful and engaging resources that explain evolution and natural selection to under 11 year olds demonstrates how easily children of this age can be introduced to these important scientific concepts. It is in no way too early an age at which to do that, especially when so much of popular culture conditions young children into a way of thinking that is not scientific. In fact, it is vital that children build understanding of these concepts early so that they can form a sure foundation for greater scientific understanding later in the curriculum.’
‘The curriculum currently being drafted will apply for years to come so it is vital that this long-standing omission of evolution is corrected now.’
NOTES
You can read the letter sent to Ed Balls hereFor more information contact Paul Pettinger at the British Humanist Association on 020 7462 4993.
Professor Sir Tom Blundell FRS FMedSci is Sir William Dunn Professor of Biochemistry and head of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge.
Paul Braterman is Professor Emeritus, University of North Texas and Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Chemistry, University of Glasgow.
Professor Richard Dawkins FRS is the former Professor for Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University and a prominent broadcaster on science.
Professor Sir Anthony Epstein, CBE, FRS, hon FRSE, FRCP is former Professor of Pathology, and Head of Department at the University of Bristol.
Professor Robin Dunbar FBA is Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Oxford.
Professor R. John Ellis FRS is professor at the department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Gairdner International Award Winner 2006, Cell Stress Society International Medal winner 2008.
Dr Dylan Evans is Lecturer in Behavioural Science in the School of Medicine at University College Cork.
Sir James Gowans CBE FRCP FRS was Henry Dale Research Professor of the Royal Society at the University of Oxford
Adam Hart-Davis is a prominent broadcaster on science and technology.
Professor Robert A Hinde CBE FRS FBE is Emeritus Royal Society Research Professor of Zoology at the University of Cambridge and former master of St. John's College, Cambridge.
Sir Tim Hunt FRS is a Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine.
Professor Hugh Huxley FRS MBE won the Royal Medal in 1977 and the Copley Medal in 1997. He was Professor of biology at Brandeis University.
Professor Steve Jones is professor of genetics and head of the biology department at University College London.
Professor Sir Hans Kornberg FRS is professor of Biology at Boston University and former Master of Christ's College, Cambridge.
Professor Sir Harold Kroto FRS was joint 1996 Nobel laureates in Chemistry.
Professor John Lee is consultant histopathologist at Rotherham General Hospital and clinical professor of pathology at Hull York Medical School. He has also broadcast and science and medicine.
Sir Paul Nurse FRS is a Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine and President of Rockefeller University.
Revd Professor Michael Reiss FIBiol, FRSA is Assistant Director and Professor of Science Education at the Institute of Education, University of London.
Sir David Smith FRS FRSE is former Principal of Edinburgh University (1987-1994), former President of Wolfson College, Oxford (1994-2000) and was awarded the Gold Medal for Botany of the Linnean Society in 1989.
Professor Sir Kenneth Stuart FRCP is a former adviser to Commonwealth Secretariat, London; Professor and Head of Department of Medicine, University of the West Indies, Jamaica; consultant, University Hospital, Jamaica; and consultant advisor to the Wellcome Trust.
Sir Fraser Stoddart FRS, FRSE is professor of Chemistry, Northwestern University
Sir John Sulston FRS is Chair, Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation (iSEI) at the University of Manchester
Professor Sir David Weatherall FRS is Chancellor of Keele University, former Professor of Haematology, former Nuffield Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Oxford and former Regius Professor of Medicine.
James Williams FIBio CSciTeach is Lecturer in Science Education at the University of Sussex.
Professor Raymond Tallis FMedSci is Emeritus Professor of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Manchester.
Professor Lewis Wolpert CBE FRS is Emeritus Professor of Biology as applied to Medicine, University College London.
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