The Physics Crisis

I agree with the Institute Of Physics' concern (see here) about where the Physics teachers are coming from, following the UK Government's recent curriculum and Assessment review. 

It used to be the case that the sciences were always taught separately until, that is, 1995 onwards when it was referred to as double award), and from 2006 called Combined Science.

Combined Science was a push to ensure girls study some Physics rather than no Physics. But it didn't work.  

I'm not sure who had this unhelpful idea to teach combined sciences because invariably Physics will be left out in the cold. It is the hardest, most theoretical and mathematical of the sciences therefore less appealing to pupils, especially girls. Why? Is it taught in such a way that girls can't relate to it or is it that too many Physics teachers are male? Maybe less mathematics in the subject at school level would make the subject more interesting and appear relevant. Leave the heavy maths to uni degrees.

Combined Science combines a life science (Biology) with physical sciences (Physics, Chemistry) but leaves out earth sciences e.g. Oceanography, Geology, Meteorology). 

Biology is a relatable science because it's about living things: plants, animals and humans.

Chemistry has exciting experiments to do in the lab. And both girls and boys overlap in opting to do Chemistry. The split happens between Physics and Biology with girls preferring the latter.

Physics is more mechanical and dry so it appears boring appealing more to boys who enjoy woodwork and generally constructing things. Girls therefore fail to see its relevance because they don't tend to make things out of materials such as, wood. But Physics includes sound waves, refraction, mechanics and materials, particles, radiation, measurements, fields, magnetism, nuclear physics, thermal physics, medical physics, optics, engineering etc.

It occurred to me that instead of knitting groups in unis there should be woodwork groups with an emphasis on female participation. Women need to learn to be comfortable using a saw and with working with wood. It's a skill which can be dangerous. I learnt the skill and hazards of using a saw from my uncle Josef.

You can always learn to knit but you can't learn woodwork as easily. 

My uncle Josef and grandfather Jan were pure geniuses at making things out of wood. They could construct anything!!

All three major sciences are important because they all help us understand the world around us. 

As my mother explained to me Chemistry is all around you because everything is a chemical reaction even down to cleaning products. And it's useful to understand how chemicals react in for example, medicine and make-up. 

Physics is unavoidable too. It's useful for technology, down to understanding home appliances and electricity. How everything works is what Physics is about. It's the cornerstone of natural sciences because it looks at the micro and macro of things and complex systems. Physics deals with the observable and the unobservable, unlike Biology and Chemistry which tend towards the observable.

Physics is a good problem solving, analytical subject which leads naturally to Philosophy. 

Physics Chemistry and Biology were known as natural philosophy in the 17th century which is why I like 17th century Philosophy. It gives you the chance to study all three plus Astronomy within the context of Philosophy.

However, I feel strongly that the sciences would be more attractive if Geology and Astronomy were taught. How can we have people going to the moon yet not teach Astronomy in schools? This baffles me! 

The Social Sciences have science in the title but are different in that they are concerned with studying societies and human beings interacting with their environment: 

Sociology, Anthropology, Psycholinguistics, Political Science, Psychology, History, Economics, Archaeology, Geography, Culturology. 

These are all very important. Just because they're not STEM subjects as such doesn't mean they don't need to be taught in schools even if that means they're only offered at A Level.