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UK University Asks: "Does Space Flight Inspire School Students to Take STEM Subjects?"

posted by janrinok on Wednesday January 28 2015, @07:22AM   Printer-friendly
from the a-peake-into-space dept.

AnonTechie writes:

Should we say NO even before the project is finished (citing Betteridge's law of headlines)?

Science Education researchers at University of York are to work with leading space scientist and The Sky at Night presenter Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock to investigate if human spaceflight inspires school students to take science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.

The £348,000 three-year project, funded by the UK Space Agency and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), will focus on British astronaut Tim Peake's mission to the International Space Station (ISS), to be launched at the end of November 2015.

Tim Peake is the first British member of the European Space Agency's astronaut corps, and he will become the first Briton to visit the ISS. As well as delivering invaluable scientific research and cutting edge technology, it is hoped that the programme will boost participation and interest in STEM subjects among school children.

The research will involve gathering views from pupils and teachers from a sample of 30 primary and 30 secondary schools. In addition, perspectives will be gained from space scientists on areas of the industry that may influence students. Participants will be asked their advice on space science resources for use with school students, leading to the production of an overview of those resources. The study, starting in January 2015, will also involve the design of a new instrument to assess school students' attitudes to STEM subjects and to space science.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-01/uoy-dsf012715.php

 
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  • (Score: 2) by GungnirSniper on Wednesday January 28 2015, @05:14PM

    by GungnirSniper (1671) on Wednesday January 28 2015, @05:14PM (#138954) Journal

    What good is a space program if we won't allow students to fire their own rockets on school fields, mix any harmless chemicals outside of baking soda and vinegar, or even look at a solar eclipse? [owu.edu]

    Some children were required to look at the ground and place their hands over their eyes while walking out to their busses at the end of the day.

    The message we're sending isn't just that science is dangerous but it has no tangible use. It's just another set of theories to regurgitate on tests.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 29 2015, @04:05AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 29 2015, @04:05AM (#139091)

    Yep, just another brick in the wall...