Community News Archive
Institute of Physics launches new science degrees
Stimulating Physics
10 October 2006
A new brand of physics based science degrees, Integrated Sciences,was launched by the Institute of Physics today. The degrees will combine core physics with courses on applications of science in the modern world. They will give graduates technical skills and a diverse science knowledge that will suit the needs of employers in the twenty-first century.
Designed for students who wouldn’t normally take physics, Integrated Sciences provides another way into physics as graduates can also go on to study an integrated masters in physics or another science. The Institute is developing the degrees together with four partner universities as part of its Stimulating Physics programme*.
Peter Main, director of science and education at the Institute said: “Our partner universities will be able to tailor their own programmes to match student demand and their own expertise. This means that each university will be able to offer a slightly different flavour of Integrated Sciences degree, based around a core physics syllabus. We are aiming to attract at least 20 students at each of our partner universities every year for the next five years. If we are successful, we envisage working with up to 20 more universities to develop more programmes.”
The courses are aimed at people who want to take an interdisciplinary science degree or who didn’t take the right A-levels to study physics but who have the ability to do science.
Jim Al-Khalili, head of physics at University of Surrey said: “This new degree is just what is needed to produce the very best all-round scientists for our country’s technological needs in the 21st century.”
The four universities that will offer Integrated Sciences degrees are University of East Anglia (UEA), London South Bank University, University of Leicester and University of Surrey. Each programme will contain core physics such as optics and quantum mechanics together with other courses including the application of science in the modern world. For example, partners may offer courses on climate change, nanoscale science and ecology.
Dr Palasz, senior associate at National Adhesives, a member of the ICI group, said: “We fully support the Institute’s initiative. Modern day companies need graduates who have multidisciplinary qualities and are not just experts in one field. Integrated Sciences degrees will be attractive to both students and industry alike. Students will have the opportunity to learn key technical skills required in industry and in turn industry will recruit this new breed of graduates”.
Peter Main continued: “The first Integrated Sciences courses will be taking applications to start in September next year. With their up to date and relevant content, we hope they will attract the next generation of scientists that this country needs to keep our world class science and technology research and industry going.”
*The Stimulating Physics programme
The Institute of Physics has been awarded £1.8m by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to deliver the project Stimulating Physics over the next two years in partnership with several universities and a wide range of other organisations. The project aims to increase the numbers of students studying physics-based courses in higher education institutions through two principal strands, Access and Demand.
The Access Strand has three elements to it:
Teacher Fellows
We aim to overcome the problems associated with the mismatch between schools and colleges and university physics departments by arranging for a teacher to spend a full year in a local physics department, assisting with teaching and acting as liaison person with other schools.
New Degree Structures
We are working with university partners to develop a new brand of physics-based, interdisciplinary degree programmes that will appeal to non-traditional entrants. The programmes will be attractive in their own right to both employers and students but will also enable students to continue with further study in a specialist physics programme if they so wish.
Repackaging Courses
We shall be working with a marketing company to determine what attracts or does not attract potential entrants to physics programmes, with an emphasis on those students who do not traditionally choose physics, for whatever reason. On completion of this first phase, we shall work with university partners to repackage their physics degree course to match the outcomes of the marketing exercise.
The Demand Strand will be piloted in three clusters of eight schools. The clusters are in Leeds, Nottinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The strand has five elements to it. The first three are student centred and the last two are aimed at teachers:
Providing e-mentoring for school students
This will be a website that links physics undergraduates (mentors) to school students (pupils). The aim is to improve the confidence of the pupils and to get them to think about physics as a real possibility for them. As well as the direct connection between mentors and pupils, there will be bespoke content to capture their interest and stimulate discussion.
Supporting industrial visits
We will be working with the Industrial Trust to take groups of children on visits to local physics-based industry - with follow up activities. Each visit will involve between 12 and 20 students.
<>Business/enterprise simulation activity
This will be role play and simulation activity for school students. The aim is to put into children's minds that there can be a link between physics and enterprise.
Working with non-specialist teachers of physics
The shortage of specialist teachers in physics and mathematics is emerging as the most potent threat to the participation of students in science and engineering in university. It is impossible to rectify the situation in the short to medium term by recruiting more specialists, even if that were possible. Consequently, we have to work with the teachers actually teaching physics and endeavour to improve their confidence, knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject. We shall set up non-specialist learning communities; with our partners, we shall establish regular meetings, set up a Summer School programme for NQTs, and develop targeted resources. In the longer term, we will work towards an accreditation scheme for teachers to recognise and encourage their professional development. We will be appointing regional advisers who will work with these teachers in the school, at twilight sessions and at a summer school.
Improving careers information and advice
We will organise an event for teachers of physics and those involved with careers advice to improve the accuracy and consistency of their knowledge about physics-based careers.
For further information and interviews please contact:
Helen MacBain, press officer, Institute of Physics,76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT.
Tel: 020 7470 4815, or 07946 321473
E-mail: helen.macbain@iop.org