Perceptions and Images of Science and Science Education

Abstract

Modern societies become more and more dominated and driven by science and technology (S&T). Such societies need a highly skilled workforce for a competitive global knowledge-based market. Furthermore, democratic societies need broadly educated citizens who can understand current S&T-based challenges and who can take part in democratic decisions. In the EU and many other countries there is widespread concern about a fall in the recruitment to studies and careers in S&T. In order to face these challenges, we need to know how young learners perceive S&T in society; we need to know their attitudes, sentiments and priorities. This chapter gives a brief glimpse into this situation by presenting some data from ROSE, an international comparative research project. The data indicate that young students actually have great respect for and many positive attitudes towards S&T. This does, however, not imply that the want to choose S&T as studies and careers. The data also shows great differences between girls and boys in attitudes, values and priorities. Any attempt to redress the situation will need to take such knowledge into account in order to be successful