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Welcome to National Science and Engineering Week 2007

When I see the rapid technological changes and advances which have occurred just in the last decade, it makes me feel excited and optimistic about what the future has in store for us. Will science and medicine be able, in future generations, to find cures for diseases like Parkinson's Disease and other terrible medical conditions? And, what space explorations will take place in our time – could we start going above rather than abroad for holidays?

Science and engineering may hold some of the answers to these questions and many more, but we need to be prepared and make sure we have enough scientists trained and ready to tackle these challenges. This is why events like National Science and Engineering Week are so important, because it is vital for our country’s future success that young people do get excited about science and engineering and do go on to pursue careers in these areas.

With this in mind, it is with great pleasure that I introduce the programme for National Science and Engineering Week 2007. I hope that this week can help spread the word about science right across the UK, not just among our young people, but throughout our communities. Science needs to become a topic of discussion and take centre stage, because it will have such a huge impact on our future.

For example, this year’s theme is “Energy and Climate Change” – the greatest global environmental challenge ever faced by humanity. Science has been critical in helping us to understand the nature and scale of the problem, and what we can do to tackle it.  The actions and choices that each of us make in our daily lives will play a key part in determining our success in combating the threat of climate change to our environment, economy and way of life. For us to make the right decisions, we need to have the understanding and the will of the whole community behind us.
 
The challenge is clear. We must reduce very radically the scale of greenhouse gas emissions both here in the UK and internationally, as well as adapting to the climate changes which will now inevitably occur.

But this is not a problem which will be solved in a generation.  We need young people to become tomorrow’s scientists and engineers to help develop the new technologies and solutions in areas such as energy generation and efficiency.  

To help achieve this goal the Department of Trade and Industry has committed extra funding to National Science and Engineering Week to help encourage a wider range of schools, particularly those that may not have participated in previous years, to organise their own activities throughout the Week. This funding will enable new and exciting events to take place across the country and will help spark the imagination of both teachers and pupils.

I hope that many people will have the opportunity to take part in one of the lectures, debates or hands-on activities on energy and climate change during National Science and Engineering Week.

Malcolm Wicks
Minister of State for Science and Innovation

National Science and Engineering Week (9 -18 March 2006) is on its way… Visit the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) website to find out what’s on during the week, including how you can vote for the Nation's Favourite Experiment.