York academic to head national science drive
Posted on 22 April 2004
Professor John Holman has been appointed Director of the £9 million flagship National Science Learning Centre which will be based at the University of York, and is designed to improve the way science is taught in schools, bringing back excitement and enthusiasm for the subject.
The National Centre will be at the heart of a £50 million network of nine regional centres, funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Government, where teachers and technicians will be brought together with advanced ICT, cutting-edge scientific thinking, industry expertise, and high-quality professional development. Courses will cover all aspects and all levels of science and will also explore citizenship and the impact of science on society.
Professor Holman, Salters Professor of Chemical Education at the University of York, believes that the quality of science education depends crucially on the supply and professional expertise of science teachers who hold the key to motivating students towards high achievement.
He has 25 years' practical experience of teaching at secondary school level. As Salters Professor he directs the Science Curriculum Centre and is responsible for the Salters science curriculum projects. He also teaches chemistry at undergraduate level.
Professor Holman said: "I look forward to the challenge of this new role. I am interested in the teaching of chemistry at all levels and the professional development of teachers. This national position presents an exciting opportunity to influence the quality of science teaching in the UK."
Clare Matterson, Director of Medicine, Society and History at the Wellcome Trust added, "At the Wellcome Trust we have a vision to help enhance science education through the work of the National Science Learning Centre. John Holman – with his experience and enthusiasm – is the ideal person to turn this vision into a reality."
Alan Johnson, Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education said, "We are delighted that John Holman has been appointed as Director of the National Science Learning Centre. His skills and breadth of experience will be invaluable to the network."
The bid to host the National Centre at York was made by the White Rose Consortium of Leeds, Sheffield and York universities, together with Sheffield Hallam University, which will host one of nine regional centres.
Professor Holman will work with the regional centre directors to develop the network of Science Learning Centres, and will represent the National Centre in national and international circles.
Notes to editors:
- Other Media contacts:
- Miriam de Lacy, Head of Media Relations, The Wellcome Trust, 020 7611 8285, m.delacy@wellcome.ac.uk
- Lucy Canning, Media Centre, Department for Education and Skills, 020 7925 5361, Lucy.CANNING@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
- Science Minister Lord Sainsbury, who opened the University of York's £25million biosciences research building for the Departments of Biology and Chemistry in 2003, said: "Science education is vital for a thriving economy."
- The National Science Learning Centre is funded by the DfES and the Wellcome Trust ~ www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk
- The University of York is internationally renowned for developing new and exciting approaches to teaching science which are used all over the world. The decision to site the National Centre at the York campus will build on that expertise.
- The University of York Science Education Group (UYSEG) played a leading role in the successful bid for the National Science Centre. With a joint base in the Departments of Chemistry and Educational Studies, UYSEG has an international reputation for science education research and curriculum development. The group developed the internationally renowned Salters science courses and is currently developing 21st-Century Science, a government-backed initiative at GCSE, with £1.2 million of funding from Nuffield, Wellcome and the Salters Institute. UYSEG is led by Professor John Holman and Professor Robin Millar of the Department of Educational Studies. Further details are at www.uyseg.org
- This initiative will build on groundwork carried out by the York Science Enhancement Programme, an innovative programme of residential professional development for science teachers that draws on expertise from the Departments of Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Educational Studies.
- The White Rose University Consortium universities (including Sheffield Hallam for this project) have over 1000 researchers working in 5 or 5* rated departments of pure and applied science, with an overall annual research spend in excess of £200 million. The Consortium includes half of the Professors of Science Education in the UK.
- The five other regional Science Learning Centres are: London: run by the Institute of Education, University of London South East: run by the University of Southampton Eastern: run by the University of Hertford East Midlands: run by the University of Leicester North West: run by Manchester Metropolitan University