WRITTEN QUESTION E-1530/02

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 June 2002)

Subject: Promoting the study of physics among young people

There is an alarming decrease in the number of science students and the public seems not to be aware of the gravity of the problem. Why are there increasingly fewer students choosing physics and mathematics at university level?

The lack of physics students is a particularly important problem because it applies to almost all the European Union countries. Therefore expects have agreed that investigations should be carried out in the Member States to provide solutions for combating the current low levels of interest in physics within the Community.

Can the Commission indicate if it considers it would be able to promote far-reaching measures and programmes at Community level to motivate our young people to take up the study of physics at school and at university, thus resolving the problems caused by the ever-decreasing decline of interest in the subject which affect all Community economies?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2002)

The decline in the number of people wanting to study science subjects in Europe was discussed at an informal joint meeting of Education and Research Ministers in Uppsala in March 2001, where a broad consensus was established on the need to motivate young people, and girls in particular, to study science subjects and take up careers in science. Students' motivation plays an important role in their levels of success in scientific disciplines, and the image which they form of science when they are young is decisive when it comes to choosing a career in this area.

The February 2001 Education Council adopted, for the first time in the history of the Europe of education, a report on the concrete future objectives of education and training systems to be attained by 2010(1). The Stockholm European Council of 23 and 24 March 2001 identified mathematics, sciences and technology as a priority area.

Within the framework of the open coordination method, a group of experts composed of representatives of the 15 Member States has started work aimed at increasing the numbers opting for scientific and technological subjects, and they will be using instruments such as indicators and performance calibration. Physics is obviously one of the science subjects in the expert group's sights.

Particular attention will be paid to methods of encouraging young people to choose scientific and technical subjects and to ensure a steady supply of qualified teachers in these subjects. An initial report from this group will be available by the end of 2002.

The experts' conclusion to which the written question alludes relates to a study conducted by the Spanish Presidency, which the Commission will examine along with others and will submit for examination to its group of experts.

Within the framework of the Community's research policy, initiatives have been supported under the Fifth Framework RTD Programme aimed at reviving young people's interest in science subjects. In particular, Physics on Stage (supported by the Commission as part of the European Science and Technology Week 2001) is an initiative specifically concerned with attracting people to physics and the teaching of physics. The Sixth Framework RTD Programme and the Science and Society Action Plan adopted by the Commission in December 2001(2) provide for measures to promote ways of teaching science that will be more attractive to young people, as well as an initiative to pinpoint science training needs in Europe.

It must be said, however, that encouraging young people to study physics is a matter primarily for the Member States rather than for the Community.

(1) Report of the Education Council to the European Council on the concrete future objectives of education and training systems Document No 5980/01 EDUC 18 of 14 February 2001.

(2) COM(2001) 714 final.