Milton Keynes Science Festival 2008

作为2008年科学节的一部分，我们建议通过一系列活动，包括学校讲座，公众辩论，特别是科学和技术如何影响日常生活的一系列展览，将科学和技术的兴奋，奇迹和机会带给米尔顿凯恩斯的公众。米尔顿凯恩斯理事会及其教育服务部门已经确定，该地区对STEM学科的吸收率很低（低于其人口和社会模式的预期全国平均水平），并且在城市寻求发展其科学和技术业务界面（例如通过建立科技园）时导致严重的技能短缺。艺术节的一个主要目的是作为外展活动的中心，这些活动旨在鼓励当地学生更多地学习STEM。这些活动包括在当地和全国范围内为STEM毕业生展示职业选择。特别重要的是要与成年人接触，无论是作为当地公民（让他们参与辩论，以当地科学和技术为基础的研究的必要性），还是作为父母，因为他们在鼓励学生从事STEM方面至关重要，并将其视为一种职业，而不是米尔顿凯恩斯常见的零售和服务业。购物中心的使用将使我们能够将物理学直接带给公众，并与那些不会参加STEM活动的人接触。我们还可以强调物理/科学职业的机会，因为大多数示威者是博士或年轻的科学家（超过50%的女性），证明科学是“由像你或你的孩子这样的人完成的！

We propose to bring some of the excitement, wonder and opportunities of science and technology to the public of Milton Keynes as part of the 2008 Science Festival through a series of events including school talks, public debates and in particular a mass demonstration of how science and technology influences everyday life by a series of exhibits sited in the massive retail centre in Milton Keynes city centre. Milton Keynes Council and its Education services has identified that uptake in STEM subjects is poor in the region (below expected National Average for its demographic and social patterns) and is leading to a severe skills shortage at a time when the City is seeking to develop its science and technology business interface (eg through the establishment of a Technology Park). A key aim of the Festival is to act as a centre piece for outreach activities which have been organised to encourage the local student population to a greater uptake in STEM. These events include demonstrations of the career options for STEM based graduates both in the local region and nationally. It is particularly essential to engage with the adult population both in their role as local citizens (engaging them in debate as to the need for local science and technology based research) and as parents since they are crucial in encouraging students to engage in STEM and see this as a career rather than the retail and service industries so common in Milton Keynes. The use of the shopping centre will allow us to bring physics directly to the public and engage with people who would not otherwise attend a STEM event. We can also emphasize the opportunities for careers in physics/science and, as most of the demonstrators are PhDs or younger scientists (over 50% female), demonstrate that science is 'done by people like you or your children!