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Encouraging science - An interview with Robert Winston
Professor Lord Robert Winston is one of the world's most respected scientists and pioneers in fertility research. The presenter of popular television series' The Human Mind and Child of Our Time spoke exclusively to iVillage about nurturing a child's interest in science
Robert Winston: I think the best way to encourage children to enjoy science is to get them to ask questions about the world around them and possibly buy them a chemistry set or show them simple experiments.
Robert Winston: Having failed to encourage my own children whilst in their teens to take an interest in science, I feel rather a failure in this respect. But I think it is the same as inspiring younger children. Keep demonstrating how much of the natural world is explained by science.
If they are looking at career options, point out that science is one of the most rewarding careers from a personal perspective and all the more rewarding for seeing the direct benefit to the people helped by scientific developments.
What family activities can encourage an interest in science?Robert Winston: Families can visit museums together during the summer holidays to encourage an interest in science, or maybe even visit an industrial plant (particularly if one of the parents works there).
How many children do have a basic knowledge of chemistry and, for example, are familiar with the periodic table?Robert Winston: Far too few, because unfortunately chemistry is still seen as a dry, uninteresting subject. My book It's Elementary is useful in encouraging an interest in this subject.
Would you say science and chemistry lose out to other subjects in schools?Robert Winston: I wouldn't really, but there needs to be a better understanding of how science is connected to other subjects. For example, biology is connected to literature and chemistry to art. But unfortunately we don't always see these connections and we need to start teaching science as more of a cultural pursuit.
Is chemistry taught as a boy's subject?Robert Winston: I think it is a real misconception that chemistry is a boy's subject, as girls are just as good at science as boys. I think an enquiring mind is not limited to one sex, and we should be doing everything we can to attract more young women into science.
At what sort of age can we start making our children aware of science?Robert Winston: I don't think we would want to teach chemistry to a six-month-old baby, for example, but children from a very early age are exposed to chemistry even if they don't realise it at the time. Exposure to science happens earlier than most people realise and we should definitely be teaching it earlier in schools.
Why do you think it's important to link scientific learning to everyday life and familiar objects, as you do in your book?Robert Winston: Because if we don't link science to everyday life and familiar objects, we risk people having a mistrust of science and technology, which is the very essence of why we are living longer and healthier lives than ever before.
Do you have any tips at the moment for parents whose children are taking GCSE and A-level exams?Robert Winston: Stay calm! And don't pass your expectations onto your children.
It's Elementary! by Robert Winston is published by Dorling Kindersley and costs £9.99
Click here to order your copy.
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