Brussels, 28/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - A press release explained that faced with the obvious disaffection of young people for scientific studies throughout Europe, the European Commission announced on 27 November the creation of an experts group in charge of examining way to promote science teaching in secondary and primary schools in view of ensuring the preparation of future generations for a “society and economy for which knowledge is the engine”. The press release explains that the group, chaired by Michel Rocard MEP (and former French prime minister) is made up of Peter Csermely, molecular biologist at the University of Budapest and Descartes communications prize winner in 2005; Dieter Lenzen, president of the Free University of Berlin and former president of the German Science Teaching in Education Association; Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson, president of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm; Doris Jorde, from the University of Oslo, who is the Chair of ESERA (European Science Education Research Association). The rapporteur for the group is Valérie Hemmo, author of several studies on this question. The press release also underlined that the Commission had set this group up for responding to the increasing number of indications that there is a lack of interest among young people for scientific studies. The press release points out that according to Eurobarometer in 2005, more than 80% of adults thought young people's interest for science was essential for the future prosperity of Europe, whereas only 15% said that they were satisfied with the quality of science teaching in school. Groups such as the one launched today will “help the European Commission tackle the difficult question of how to give each citizen the required competencies to live and work in the knowledge society”
The press release announced that the group chaired by Michel Rocard will study different initiatives already launched in the EU as possible models for future policy, notably: the Pollen project, which aims to stimulate science learning in primary schools (: http://www.pollen-europa.net/ ?page=1); -Nucleus, a group of projects linking the main international research bodies in Europe, museum networks and scientific centres with university partners throughout Europe: the press release also mentions the opening of a portal on science teaching (http://www.Xplora.org ), the “very popular” publication of the journal Science in Schools and the organisation of the festival La science en scène, from 2 - 6 April 2007 in Grenoble. (mg)