Must all children learn science at school?
The answer is "Yes." Science opens young people's minds to the wonders of the natural world; introduces them to the elegance and honesty of scientific endeavours; and equips them with cognitive and problem-solving tools that will serve them well in the future. Science brings children closer to the natural objects and phenomena that surround them; endows them with a rich understanding of our complex world; helps them practice an intelligent approach to dealing with the environment; and teaches them about the techniques and tools that societies...
The answer is "Yes." Science opens young people's minds to the wonders of the natural world; introduces them to the elegance and honesty of scientific endeavours; and equips them with cognitive and problem-solving tools that will serve them well in the future. Science brings children closer to the natural objects and phenomena that surround them; endows them with a rich understanding of our complex world; helps them practice an intelligent approach to dealing with the environment; and teaches them about the techniques and tools that societies have used to improve the human condition. As children become familiar with the universality of the laws of science, they also learn to recognize science's ability "to create and cement together a unity for humanity."
As citizens, science helps children develop the mental and moral predispositions to imagination, humility, rigour, curiosity, freedom and tolerance - all essential ingredients for peace and democracy.
Therefore, the InterAcademy Panel on International Issues (IAP) recommends to all national leaders that:
We, the undersigned science academies throughout the world, members of the IAP, are convinced that, with the support of international authorities, the backing of the national ministries concerned, and the dedicated efforts of the many scientists whom they bring together, a worldwide effort in this area is within reach. This effort is potentially rich in intellectual and societal benefits.
Science Education of Children: Signatories
Latin American Academy of Sciences Third World Academy of Sciences Albanian Academy of Sciences National Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, Argentina Australian Academy of Science Austrian Academy of Sciences Bangladesh Academy of Sciences The Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina Brazilian Academy of Sciences Cameroon Academy of Sciences The Royal Society of Canada Academia Chilena de Ciencias Chinese Academy of Sciences Academia Sinica, China, Taiwan Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences Cuban Academy of Sciences Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Egypt Estonian Academy of Sciences The Delegation of the Finnish Academies of Science and Letters Académie des Sciences, France Georgian Academy of Sciences Union of German Academies of Sciences and Humanities Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences Academy of Athens, Greece Academia de Ciencias Medicas, Fisicas y Naturales de Guatemala Hungarian Academy of Sciences Indian National Science Academy Indonesian Academy of Sciences Royal Irish Academy (Acadamh Ríoga na héireann) Kenya National Academy of Sciences Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Italy Science Council of Japan Royal Scientific Society of Jordan African Academy of Sciences Latvian Academy of Sciences Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts Akademi Sains Malaysia Academía Mexicana de Ciencias Academy of Sciences of Moldova Mongolian Academy of Sciences The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences Academy Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand Nigerian Academy of Sciences Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters Pakistan Academy of Sciences Palestine Academy for Science and Technology Academia Nacional de Ciencias del Peru National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines Russian Academy of Sciences Académie des Sciences et Techniques du Sénégal Singapore National Academy of Sciences Slovak Academy of Sciences Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts Academy of Science of South Africa Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences of Spain National Academy of Sciences, Sri Lanka Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Council of the Swiss Scientific Academies Academy of Sciences, Republic of Tajikistan The Caribbean Academy of Sciences Turkish Academy of Sciences The Uganda National Academy of Sciences The Royal Society, United Kingdom US National Academy of Sciences Academia de Ciencias Físicas, Matemáticas y Naturales de Venezuela