Scots urged to engage with Science and Innovation Campaign

28 Jan 2009

Scotland Office Minister Ann McKechin today threw her weight behind a new UK Government campaign to boost public engagement in science and innovation.

The Science [So What? So Everything] campaign, launched by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and backed by the science community and celebrities, aims to create a more science literate society by showing people how science benefits them in their everyday lives and highlighting the science and technology based industries of the future.

The thriving life sciences sector in Scotland is an example of an economic success story that will help to underpin the future knowledge driven economy in the UK. There are 600 life science organisations in Scotland employing 30,500 people and contributing £2.8 billion to the Scottish economy annually. However, 67% of all vacancies in the science, engineering and manufacturing sectors in Scotland are classified as hard to fill by employers, mainly due to a skills gap.

Parliamentary under Secretary of State Ann McKechin said:

"The field of science and innovation is a growing sector and I want to encourage the Scottish workforce of the future to consider the many opportunities presented by training in this exciting field of work. The fact that 15% of the UK's life science companies are based in Scotland and that Scotland attracts 13.1% of the total health research funding in the UK shows that this is an area where Scotland is punching above its weight."

The campaign is launched as a new poll shows a high proportion of people have faith in science to make positive changes in the future. Asked what would have the most impact in shaping their futures, 26% said science, putting it ahead of money, politics, family and religion. However, the sample poll showed that, when asked to choose from a selection which group of people has the most effect on our daily lives, only 3% selected scientists*.

The Minister added:

"Science plays a huge part in every day lives - indeed Scotland has a long tradition of being at the forefront of medical discoveries. Many of the greatest advances in the history of medicine have been made by Scots or in Scotland, including the discoveries of penicillin and insulin. That is why this campaign is so important in helping to overcome the common perception that science is out of reach to most or elitist in some way."

The campaign will build momentum around a series of events and milestones throughout the year including National Science and Engineering Week in March and regional science festivals.

The campaign will show that:

  • It is our science ? central to everything we come into contact with and consume
  • It is your science ? much of the science that is conducted in the UK is funded by the tax payer or charitable donor
  • It pays to invest in science ? because it underpins our future prosperity and is integral to finding the solutions to the global and health challenges we face ? that is why the Government will make a record investment of nearly £6 billion in science this year
  • It pays to become a scientist ? a science education will open up an even greater wealth of opportunities, can bring better financial rewards and will help build the Britain of the future.

Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills John Denham said:

"Our ability as a nation to innovate and build links between good science and business will help ensure we will emerge stronger when the upturn comes.

"Driving up the number of people who have the skills in science, technology, engineering and maths required by emerging and growth industries will help ensure the UK remains strong in an increasingly competitive global economy and win the jobs of tomorrow."

Independent projections argue there could be as many as 2.9 million jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) related occupations by 2017. Science [So What? So Everything] will complement and support existing work to increase the number of people studying STEM subjects and entering related careers.

Press contact:
Tansy Main
Scotland Office
0131 244 9022

Notes to editors:

  1. The Science [So What? So Everything] website is at Link opens in new windowwww.direct.gov.uk/sciencesowhat and went live on Wednesday 28 January.
  2. The campaign has been designed and supported by DIUS working in partnership with the seven UK Research Councils, the Technology Strategy Board the Royal Society, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, the British Science Association, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
  3. Science [So What? So Everything] is aimed at people of all ages but supports and compliments work funded by DCSF such as the websites Link opens in new windowwww.futuremorph.org and Link opens in new windowwww.scienceandmaths.net designed as a resource for young people and schools to show just some of the amazing and unexpected careers that studying science, technology, engineering and maths can lead to.
  4. The Government's Science and Society Consultation can be found at: Link opens in new windowhttp://interactive.dius.gov.uk/scienceandsociety/site/. For an embargoed copy of the summary of responses contact the DIUS press office.
  5. Although public confidence in science is growing, more than half of respondents to last year's Public Attitudes to Science Survey thought that science was too specialist for most people to understand with a high proportion excluding themselves for not being 'clever enough to understand it'. The Public Attitudes to Science Survey 2008 can be found at: Link opens in new windowhttp://www.dius.gov.uk/policy/science_society/public_attitudes.html
  6. A recent poll of young people conducted by the Science Council revealed only slightly more than a quarter of 16-18 year olds see sciences as relevant to their lives with many unaware of the diverse range of careers that science can give them access to. This is despite independent projections in Working Futures 2007- 2017 arguing there could be as many as 2.9 million jobs in STEM related occupations by 2017. Link opens in new windowhttp://www.ukces.org.uk/Default.aspx?page=4685
  7. The poll results are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,100 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between January 14 and 16, 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). YouGov is registered with the Information Commissioner. YouGov is a member of the British Polling Council.

*Respondents were asked "Which ONE of the following groups of people do you think typically has the most influence on our daily lives?" The answers were as follows:
Scientists 3%
Politicians 40%
Financiers 29%
Sportspeople 1%
Celebrities 7%
None of these 13%
Don't know 8%

News Release: SS1473
Date: 28 Jan 2009