SCIENCE EDUCATION for Responsible Citizenship EUR 26893 EN Research and Innovation EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Research and Innovation Directorate B — Innovation Union and European Research Area Unit B.7 — Science with and for Society E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] European Commission B-1049 Brussels EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPORT TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF THE EXPERT GROUP ON SCIENCE EDUCATION SCIENCE EDUCATION for Responsible Citizenship Chairperson Ellen Hazelkorn Rapporteur Charly Ryan Members Yves Beernaert, Constantinos P. Constantinou, Ligia Deca, Michel Grangeat, Mervi Karikorpi, Angelos Lazoudis, Roser Pintó Casulleras, Manuela Welzel-Breuer Directorate-General for Research and Innovation 2015 Science with and for Society EUR 26893 EN EUROPE DIRECT is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed LEGAL NOTICE Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the following information. The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2015 Print ISBN 978-92-79-43637-6 ISSN 1018-5593 doi:10.2777/13004 KI-NA-26-893-EN-C PDF ISBN 978-92-79-43636-9 ISSN 1831-9424 doi:10.2777/12626 KI-NA-26-893-EN-N © European Union, 2015 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. © front cover, Romolo Tavani, #62290937, 2015. Source: Fotolia.com © page 12-13, studioJowita, #40715115, 2015. Source: Fotolia.com © page 14-15, Christian Schwier, #56558562, 2015. Source: Fotolia.com © page 16-17, Syda Productions, #77407511, 2015. Source: Fotolia.com © page 18-19, Rawpixel, #65125700, 2015. Source: Fotolia.com © page 28-29, dizain, #77051460, 2015. Source: Fotolia.com © page 36-37, dizain, #82037734, 2015. Source: Fotolia.com © page 42-43, Jane, #74875196, 2015. Source: Fotolia.com Printed in Luxembourg Contents Foreword by Commissioner Moedas .....................................................................................................................................................................5 Executive Summary and Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................6 Objectives and Recommendations ...........................................................................................................................................................................8 1. Addressing Societal Challenges ................................................................................................................................................................12 2. Why Science Education Matters ...............................................................................................................................................................14 3. Problems and Challenges in Science Education .............................................................................................................16 4. The Way Forward...............................................................................................................................................................................................................18 4.1 Science education should be an essential component of a learning continuum for all, from pre-school to active engaged citizenship ........................................................................................................ 19 4.2 Science education should focus on competences with an emphasis on learning through science and shifting from STEM to STEAM by linking science with other subjects and disciplines ............. 20 4.3 The quality of teaching, teacher induction, pre-service preparation and in-service professional development should be enhanced to improve the depth and quality of learning outcomes........ 21 4.4 Collaboration between formal, non-formal and informal educational providers, enterprise, industry and civil society should be enhanced to ensure relevant and meaningful engagement of all societal actors with science and increase uptake of science studies and science-based careers and employability and competitiveness .................................................................... 22 4.5 Greater attention should be given to promoting Responsible Research and Innovation and enhancing public understanding of scientific findings and the capabilities to discuss their benefits and consequences ...................................................................................................................................................................... 24 4.6 Emphasis should be placed on connecting innovation and science education strategies, at local, regional, national, European and international levels, taking into account societal needs and global developments ........................................................................................................................................ 25 5. The Framework for Science Education for Responsible Citizenship ..............................................28 Recommendations to the European Commission ................................................................................................................................28 6. Programme for Science Education Research ......................................................................................................................36 7. Interesting Practices Promoting Responsible Science Education ......................................................42 Examples from some FP7 Projects .......................................................................................................................................................................43 Interesting practices promoting Responsible Science Education, from across Europe and around the world .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................46 Appendix 1: Glossary and Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................................68 Appendix 2: SEEG Terms of Reference ........................................................................................................................................................71 Appendix 3: Further Reading .......................................................................................................................................................................................73 Appendix 4: Endnotes ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................77 5 Carlos Moedas European Commissioner Research, Science and Innovation Foreword This publication on science education offers a 21st century vision for science for society within the broader European agenda. It is the culmination of many months of work by a group of experts brought together by the Commission in 2014. As the world becomes more inter-connected and globally competitive, new economic opportunities often come hand in hand with complex societal challenges. Therefore, we must engage all of society in research and innovation processes. We must provide the space for open, inclusive and informed discussions on the research and technology decisions that will impact citizens’ lives. Experts refer to this as ‘responsible research and innovation’, the process of aligning research and innovation to the values, needs and expectations of society. We need science to inform policy, objectively. We need science to inform citizens and politicians in a trustworthy and accessible way. We need to make decisions together − rather than from polarised positions − and to take responsibility for those decisions, based on sound scientific evidence. As policymakers, we need to better understand, and communicate, the transformative connection between science, innovation and society. How we will provide the workforce for future markets and innovative industries in Europe is still uncertain. For young people to aspire to such careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics we need to bring emerging technologies and markets closer to the classroom, we need to ignite their imagination. Skills gaps do not fill themselves, people do. We need to engage young people at an early age. Responsible research and innovation should, by its very definition, get everyone involved. This report is aimed primarily at science education policy makers. It identifies the main issues involved in helping citizens to access scientific debate; it provides guidance on how industry can contribute to science education; and it proposes a new framework for all types of science education from formal, to non-formal and informal approaches. Public engagement has already made a real difference in the governance and decision-making process of Horizon