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Nobel Prize Winner says that to take Advantage of all the Government's work in Improving the Science Base it must act now to Bolster Chemistry Student Numbers
November 13, 2002Nobel Laureate and new President of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Professor Sir Harry Kroto today issued a stark warning of the economic consequences of the failure to attract more Chemistry students. He said that the present number of around 3000 new undergraduates per year must be increased by at least 50 per cent if the UK is to retain a leading role in developing and implementing the most exciting and strategically promising cutting-edge technologies of the 21st century. This aim should be attainable as Chemistry has never been more intellectually exciting or technically more important.
This Government has worked hard to improve the science base but these efforts would be undermined if measures were not taken immediately to ensure that there were enough chemists to take up the new opportunities. "However," he said, "if the slight increase in uptake, over last year (1.3%), is an indication that that the decline has been arrested then Government has an excellent opportunity to do something really effective.
Universities and schools must recognize Chemistry's rapidly expanding role in providing the fundamental basis for the current molecular-based revolutions in Advanced Materials Science as well as Biology and Physics. "To avoid disaster, immediate action must be taken to ensure that, during the next decade, there are enough molecular scientists with the levels of basic chemical understanding to enable the UK to compete in the new giant-molecule age of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (N&N).
"The molecular and related sciences are more strategically important for society and the UK economy than ever and Universities must recognise that they have a major role to play by restructuring teaching so that all science students graduate with a thorough grounding in the molecular sciences." We presently produce the highest proportion of well-trained and most able science graduates and we must work with Government to ensure the UK's position is maintained. This will ensure that our pharmaceutical companies who compete in the global market place and make a massive contribution to the UK economy and who in general prefer to recruit chemists, will have an adequate supply outstanding graduates. Such measures would also support the burgeoning SME pharma sector that the UK is nurturing. Only if imaginative educational science initiatives are taken now can the UK's present strong position can be maintained.
"The breakthroughs in molecular biology, as exemplified by such pioneering advances as DNA sequencing, genetic fingerprinting, anti-cancer drugs, as well as the discovery of the amazing motor enzymes were all made by chemists - not biologists. Furthermore, it is not just molecular chemistry but also solid state "non-molecular" chemistry that underpins major areas of the life sciences, materials science as well as petroleum processing and polymer production. Equally important is the chemistry which underpins the fantastic advances in nanoscale physics from solid state lighting to holographic information storage. In fact it is chemists who are making the real breakthroughs in the exciting drive towards pocket supercomputers utilizing minuscule molecular components.
"The UK is in the vanguard of this remarkable revolution but if we are to remain there drastic action will be needed in our secondary schools and universities to recognise that this is the New Chemistry," he said. "It is particularly vital that schoolteachers are made aware of the exciting new Chemical based horizons".
Truly multidisciplinary research and teaching environments, in which chemistry underpins both molecular biology and molecular physics in vibrantly synergistic relationships, must be created. Only those institutions that recognise this and take decisive steps to implement the new order, will make any impact. Universities need a full complement of chemical scientists to underpin teaching and research, particularly in the cutting-edge areas of biology and physics.
"One way that Vice-Chancellors can help to solve the problem is by acknowledging that the traditional Chemistry/Physics/Biology departmentalised university infrastructures - which are now clearly out-of-date and a serious hindrance to progress - must be replaced by new ones which actively foster the synergy inherent in multidisciplinary. This must be done without reducing research and teaching efforts in these core disciplines. The solution lies in prescient redistribution of available resources to respond effectively to the exciting challenges. Short-sighted knee-jerk reactions involving cutting courses and staff, in response to falling student numbers in a narrow sector, are a sure recipe for future disaster". The creation of imaginative initiatives, aimed at informing those at the school/university interface of the pre-eminent role that the Molecular Sciences are now playing, is vital. In schools we need teachers who are aware of the modern face of chemistry, supported by a curriculum that reflects the exciting new developments. Schools also need modern upgraded laboratories where hands-on practical skills can be fostered. If these measures are also backed up by quality careers advice the opportunities that are there will be taken up.
"If the Government's efforts to maintain UK science and technology competitiveness are to be successful it must continue to sustain present investment over several years and tackle this final problem. The Comprehensive Spending Review this summer increased funding in HE, which was welcome as it has compensated for medium-term inflation. However much more is needed if we are to reach a stage at which we can continue to compete in the new era. The UK HE system requires quality science careers advice, improved science teaching facilities and recognition of the opportunities that the Government has worked for, are there to be taken. Excellence in chemistry is absolutely vital to success in the brave new world of pharmaceuticals as well as advanced materials and technologies start-ups - we lead Europe in this but lag far behind the US.
"Immediate action will enable us to maintain our position as an international leader in the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology World now being born. Failure to do so runs the risk of our slipping behind and never catching up".
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
"The molecular and related sciences are more strategically important for society and the UK economy than ever and Universities must recognise that they have a major role to play by restructuring teaching so that all science students graduate with a thorough grounding in the molecular sciences." We presently produce the highest proportion of well-trained and most able science graduates and we must work with Government to ensure the UK's position is maintained. This will ensure that our pharmaceutical companies who compete in the global market place and make a massive contribution to the UK economy and who in general prefer to recruit chemists, will have an adequate supply outstanding graduates. Such measures would also support the burgeoning SME pharma sector that the UK is nurturing. Only if imaginative educational science initiatives are taken now can the UK's present strong position can be maintained.
"The breakthroughs in molecular biology, as exemplified by such pioneering advances as DNA sequencing, genetic fingerprinting, anti-cancer drugs, as well as the discovery of the amazing motor enzymes were all made by chemists - not biologists. Furthermore, it is not just molecular chemistry but also solid state "non-molecular" chemistry that underpins major areas of the life sciences, materials science as well as petroleum processing and polymer production. Equally important is the chemistry which underpins the fantastic advances in nanoscale physics from solid state lighting to holographic information storage. In fact it is chemists who are making the real breakthroughs in the exciting drive towards pocket supercomputers utilizing minuscule molecular components.
"The UK is in the vanguard of this remarkable revolution but if we are to remain there drastic action will be needed in our secondary schools and universities to recognise that this is the New Chemistry," he said. "It is particularly vital that schoolteachers are made aware of the exciting new Chemical based horizons".
Truly multidisciplinary research and teaching environments, in which chemistry underpins both molecular biology and molecular physics in vibrantly synergistic relationships, must be created. Only those institutions that recognise this and take decisive steps to implement the new order, will make any impact. Universities need a full complement of chemical scientists to underpin teaching and research, particularly in the cutting-edge areas of biology and physics.
"One way that Vice-Chancellors can help to solve the problem is by acknowledging that the traditional Chemistry/Physics/Biology departmentalised university infrastructures - which are now clearly out-of-date and a serious hindrance to progress - must be replaced by new ones which actively foster the synergy inherent in multidisciplinary. This must be done without reducing research and teaching efforts in these core disciplines. The solution lies in prescient redistribution of available resources to respond effectively to the exciting challenges. Short-sighted knee-jerk reactions involving cutting courses and staff, in response to falling student numbers in a narrow sector, are a sure recipe for future disaster". The creation of imaginative initiatives, aimed at informing those at the school/university interface of the pre-eminent role that the Molecular Sciences are now playing, is vital. In schools we need teachers who are aware of the modern face of chemistry, supported by a curriculum that reflects the exciting new developments. Schools also need modern upgraded laboratories where hands-on practical skills can be fostered. If these measures are also backed up by quality careers advice the opportunities that are there will be taken up.
"If the Government's efforts to maintain UK science and technology competitiveness are to be successful it must continue to sustain present investment over several years and tackle this final problem. The Comprehensive Spending Review this summer increased funding in HE, which was welcome as it has compensated for medium-term inflation. However much more is needed if we are to reach a stage at which we can continue to compete in the new era. The UK HE system requires quality science careers advice, improved science teaching facilities and recognition of the opportunities that the Government has worked for, are there to be taken. Excellence in chemistry is absolutely vital to success in the brave new world of pharmaceuticals as well as advanced materials and technologies start-ups - we lead Europe in this but lag far behind the US.
"Immediate action will enable us to maintain our position as an international leader in the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology World now being born. Failure to do so runs the risk of our slipping behind and never catching up".
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
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