Funding call for science centres
Monday, 22 Oct 2007 17:36
Science centres help to boost awareness of scientific issues
Science In Focus
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Funding must be made available to ensure the survival of science centres in the UK, MPs have claimed.
The science and technology committee said these centres help young people's science education, "inspire them to take up careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics" and help the community to understand scientific issues.
Although it acknowledges that failing centres should not be funded, the committee says many are struggling financially.
It calls for the government to commission independent research to rate the effectiveness of the various science centres.
"We recommend that the government make available limited, competitively-awarded, short-term funding to support those science centres that are struggling financially," the committee's report said today.
It also said the tax burden on science and other educational centres should be reduced.
"In terms of government coordination, there has been uncertainty about which department has responsibility for science centres.
"We welcome the minister for science and innovation's offer, on behalf of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, to take responsibility for science centres, and recommend that this responsibility be formally written into the minister's portfolio."