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The government is appealing to businesses to provide several thousand more "science heroes" to work with schools around the UK.

Currently some 19,000 professionals from snow board designers to web developers and rocket scientists work as science ambassadors in schools.

Science minister Lord Drayson hopes to take that total up to 27,000 by 2011.

It is part of the effort to avert a shortage in "Stem" subjects: science, technology, engineering and maths.

Of the existing 19,000 champions more than half are said to be under 35 and four in 10 are women.

Role models

Under the umbrella organisation Stemnet they visit schools and colleges to help with after-school activities, give careers talks and organise trips into workplaces, for children aged five to 19.

Stemnet's chief executive Yvonne Baker said the ambassadors were in great demand so the intention was to expand the network to provide inspiring role models for more children.

"Each ambassador can make a real difference to young people's understanding of where science and maths can lead and how it can help them fulfil their dreams," she said.

"The economic climate may be difficult but this is an investment that business cannot afford not to make if the UK is to compete with emerging economies such as India and China."

Source: BBC News/Education

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• Secondary Schools

Last Edited Date : March 16 2009 11:42 am