the aims & objectives of Planet Science
the vision: for young people and their key influencers to engage with science and recognise it as a creative, inclusive and representative field of study, offering exciting rewards and diverse career opportunities.
Also for teachers to work in effective learning environments with innovative, cutting edge equipment that inspires and empowers both them and their pupils.
The Mission: to find sustainable ways to build partnerships, deliver innovative projects that work within the changing framework of science education and challenge the stereotypical image of science.
aims and objectives
Throughout Planet Science we worked towards four strategic aims, as detailed below. Each of these aims comprises two or three focused objectives, which contributed to achieving our overall vision.
strategic aim 1
To provide resources and advice to help secondary schools improve their science learning environments.
• To supply free or discounted, innovative science equipment to schools.
• To provide support and advice to schools on science equipment.
• To provide resources and advice to assist schools with science capital projects.
strategic aim 2
To increase opportunities, either directly or indirectly, for the engagement of specific target audiences in science.
• To provide advice and resources to encourage more girls to study physical science subjects post-16.
• To develop strategies to decrease attainment gaps in science between different ethnic minority groups.
• To increase the participation of those schools and pupils who do not normally get involved in additional science activity.
strategic aim 3
To encourage young people to continue their engagement in science (particularly physical sciences) post-16.
• To provide resources and advice to schools to help them increase the engagement of young people in post-16 science.
• To work with organisations outside formal education on strategies to increase the engagement of young people in post-16 science.
strategic aim 4
To coordinate and map the activities of organisations and individuals involved in science, in order to maximise their impact.
• To produce up-to-date databases of information for schools on the resources and advice available to them from other organisations.
• To provide strategic support to individual organisations involved in science in order to maximise their impact.
As Part of Planet Science Legacy, evaluation is being undertaken of the Science Year and Planet Science projects. The results of this will be available here in March 2004.