Madam, - Dr Peter E. Childs (March 25th) is right to emphasise the importance of building solid foundations for the future through supporting science education in schools and colleges.
He also rightly praises the report of the Task Force on the Physical Sciences, which proposed a co-ordinated approach to promoting science and engineering in Irish society. The Discover Science and Engineering Programme was established to address that key recommendation of the task force report.
The programme supports the Scope television series and this month publishes a comprehensive resource database for career guidance professionals. In addition, the programme will soon announce a significant expansion of activity in primary schools. However, direct funding of large-scale initiatives is only a part of the Discover programme's strategy.
A huge natural resource already exists throughout Ireland in the form of colleges, industries, State agencies, local authorities, small businesses and individual tradespeople and professionals who are committed to developing scientific and technological literacy. For that reason, the Discover programme recently invited submissions from any person or group engaged in promoting science, technology or engineering at any level in Irish society to contact us with ideas and comments. Our questionnaire can be downloaded at www.science.ie. - Yours, etc.,
LEO ENRIGHT, Chairman, Discover Science and Engineering Programme, Wilton Place, Dublin 2.