Stories from June 2009
New National STEM programme looks good for physics
Institute of Physics News
15 June 2009
Physics, chemistry, engineering and maths departments in universities receive a significant boost this week as the Higher Education Funding Councils for England (HEFCE) and Wales (HEFCW) announce the details behind a £20 million national programme that aims to increase the number of science graduates.
The new programme builds on the activity, experience and expertise developed within successful pilot projects that were initially conceived and coordinated by a selection of learned societies.
The Institute of Physics (IOP) ran the physics pilot programme, Stimulating Physics, over three years. The pilot included the development of a physics-based interdisciplinary degree, Integrated Sciences, which brings an exciting approach to the teaching of sciences in higher education and a project called Repackaging Physics which will change the way physics is marketed to upcoming generations of school leavers.
Both of these projects are now being rolled out by the £20 Million STEM Programme.
Peter Main, director of education and Science at IOP, said, “Through this National STEM Programme, in partnership with the learned societies, the funding council is taking steps towards ensuring there are enough science graduates to help us meet the science-based challenges of the twenty first century.
“I am delighted that the National STEM Programme, along with other projects carried out by IOP, will help universities broaden the appeal of physics, through showing that physics underpins many exciting subjects, from forensics to climate change and renewable energies, and opens up a wide range of excellent job opportunities.”
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