Dr Colin Hanbury at the University of Western Australia is conducting an international on-line survey as part of research on why people chose to study in science and science-related areas.
The survey is for anyone who completed tertiary science (and applied science) studies after leaving school – the greater the diversity of the respondents the better will be the results. You don’t have to be currently working in science-related areas. If you want your country and discipline to be represented then please participate, and please send your friends and colleagues in science-related areas the link to the survey:
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/409857/Science
All responses are anonymous and the individual responses will remain confidential. Following statistical analysis the overall results will be published during 2011. The report will be available to download at http://www.communicatingscience.org/
If you would like to know more, then please contact Dr Colin Hanbury at colin.hanbury@uwa.edu.au (Phone +61 8 6488 2508), or Assoc. Prof. Nancy Longnecker at nancy.longnecker@uwa.edu.au (Phone +61 8 6488 3926).
Important points
- The proportion of students selecting science subjects at schools in developed countries has declined in recent decades; additionally, science enrolments at universities have been falling for some time. However, the trend is opposite in developing countries.
- It is important for our combined social and economic futures to have a population that is scientifically literate and to have enough well-qualified people to take up science-based occupations.
- This survey will help us understand the factors related to people selecting to study science at school, and will enable comparisons across different cultures and countries.
Please answer the survey – it should take no longer than 15 minutes.
African Science Heroes 