Recent Press Releases

Changing the face of physics – increasing ethnic diversity in students of physics

PR15(06)

Tue, 22 May 2007

UK science is traditionally thought to have a white face as it is perceived that very few ethnic minority students study the physical sciences. The Institute of Physics recognizes that, if it is to widen the appeal of physics and to increase the numbers of physics students, it must change this – and it has received government cash through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to do so.

A report launched today, Representation of Ethnic Groups in Chemistry and Physics, shows the problem is complex and the solutions not straightforward. The report, commissioned by the Institute together with the Royal Society of Chemistry, was produced by the Warwick Institute for Employment Research and provides an analysis of how many students from different ethnic groups study chemistry and physics and when they stop studying these subjects. Peter Main, director of education and science at the Institute said “The problem is complex because some ethnic groups are very under-represented at certain levels in the educational system whilst others are very over-represented.”

One of the report’s main findings is that the problem seems to start at GCSE level. Whilst 50-70 per cent of white, Indian and Chinese students will achieve the five GCSE’s at grades A*-C necessary for A-level study, only 29-43 per cent of other ethnic minority groups achieve the same: hence ruling out the option to study physics at A-level. This trend continues into the undergraduate physics population where all ethnic groups are under-represented compared to their white counterparts.

The Institute is launching several schemes later this year to stimulate demand in physics generally and they will be addressing the problem of the lack of diversity in students studying physics. It has obtained money from HEFCE to do so, which follows an agreement last year that HEFCE would work with a group of organisations to support strategically important and vulnerable subjects. Katherine Hollinshead, diversity programme leader at the Institute said “The report has shown us that to address the lack of ethnic mix in physics, we need to start in schools with young pupils. We plan a pilot study to select schools where, whilst there is a mixture of pupils from different backgrounds, there is no culture of pupils studying physics beyond GCSE.  

“We will give pupils at these schools guidance in the career options that are available if they study physics and also, through the Web and e-mail, introduce them to physicists as role models. Science teachers who are not themselves trained physicists will be given support to provide more inspiring classroom experiences in physics for students.”

Katherine continued “Working with schools is just one way in which the Institute is trying to increase the ethnic diversity of people studying physics. However, the report covers more than just schools. We are also developing a new science degree programme and repackaging existing physics degrees to appeal to a broader range of students.”

Peter Main went on to say “We believe the lack of ethnic diversity in physics is mainly due to socio-economic factors and poor choice of A-level combinations. School pupils need better guidance in their subject choices and better information on careers. If the pilot schemes are successful, we hope to roll the programme out across the country in the next five to ten years.”

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