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STEM Young Scientists

‘We are suffering from a skills shortage that will worsen until we take a grip.’

Young people are turning away from science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, creating a national skills shortage.

Your support will help us to attract the very best STEM leaders, doctoral students, trainee teachers and students to create a UK centre for excellence in STEM education.

The need

STEM subjects are recognised as being key to national progress but despite their importance, the number of young people studying these subjects is declining.

This means the UK faces a lack of workforce skills, a shortage of educators for future generations, declining public understanding of STEM areas and serious social inequalities in access to STEM professions.

The solution

Birmingham will address this need by establishing a centre of excellence led by a core team of STEM education leaders from the UK and beyond whose work will inform and influence practice across all phases of education.

Potential research topics include quality of teaching, provision of pathways to studying science for all and funding for science and technology. This concerted programme of work would be of immediate practical relevance to the advancement of a high skills economy.

Why Birmingham

The programme would be led by one of the largest, longest and established and most respected schools of education in the country, with internationally-renowned expertise in the rigorous evaluation of education policy and practice, supported by the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. The University more widely has a long tradition of excellence in STEM subjects and was recently chosen to host the National Higher Education STEM Programme until August 2012.

The result

• More highly skilled teachers for future generations
• Greater public knowledge about STEM subjects
• More students choosing STEM subjects across all phases of education Employers gain recruits with world-class skills, helping to boost the UK’s economic growth

How you can help

To facilitate the programme, Birmingham needs to build a core team of national and international leaders in STEM education. Led by a Chair, the team will be supported by doctoral students and a visiting international professor will offer increased international visibility and status.

Match funding means that for every £3 donated to the University the government will donate £1 until 2011. To find out how you can help make the programme a reality, contact Matt Mangan; tel +44 (0)121 414 48640.