Seanad report: Seán Sherlock notes low interest in science

Research has revealed that those between 18 and 24 years do not consider science and technology industries interesting, Minister of State for Education and Skills Seán Sherlock told the Seanad.

He said that last year Science Week had set out to change that perception and interest among the age group had increased by 7 per cent in science and 8 per cent in engineering.

“Most of our children’s career opportunities will be built around harnessing new and evolving technologies that are only now establishing themselves,’’ said Mr Sherlock.

“It is critically important that we give students a window into these industries and the experiences of people working in them.’’

Pathways
Opening a series of statements on S

cience Week, Mr Sherlock said it served as a magnet to attract inquiring young students to the world of science and stimulated their awareness of the many pathways study in the area would offer them.

The week’s theme, he said, provided people with the opportunity to explore what was happening behind the scenes of everyday life and to look at the extraordinary processes that made up the ordinary part of our lives. Last year more than 200,000 people participated in hundreds of events run by schools, colleges, libraries, teachers, researchers and students throughout the State. More than 770 events were registered for this year.

Mr Sherlock said he could not emphasise enough how important it was as an annual national awareness-raising event. It had become an important event in many people’s calendars and it was truly inspirational to see the number of people who turned out and supported the various events.

Catherine Noone (FG) said she noted with concern the announcement by five female Fine Gael councillors that they did not intend to run in next year's local elections.

Parallel problem
"At a time when we are actively pursuing policies to encourage women to get involved in politics, it seems there is a parallel problem of keeping women in politics, particularly women of my generation,'' she added.

Ms Noone said there was a need to examine why women already active in politics were opting out after one term. “While we ponder how we will encourage more females into politics, we should also examine how we can encourage them to remain in politics,’’ she added.