Minister urges science teachers to use Dr Who

Science teachers should refer to popular films and TV rather than formulas and theories

The UK's Science and Innovation Minister has advised science teachers to make more references to popular science culture to keep pupils interested.

Speaking at the launch of a three-month public consultation on the UK's civil space strategy, Malcolm Wicks urged teachers to engage pupils' attention by referring to popular films and television rather than formulas and theories. 

"We must inspire children to become our future world-beating scientists and Nobel Prize winners," the minister said.

"Young people are being entranced by Doctor Who and electronic games consoles, just like the previous generation was by R2D2 and C3PO from Star Wars. Space is a great way to excite children about the importance of British science."

Wicks explained that if a teacher started a class talking about formulas they would lose 90 per cent of the pupils' attention. Instead he recommended discussing something from television or the media before going into the scientific explanation.

The public consultation is to canvas ideas for the next three years of UK space technology development. Wicks claimed that the UK space industry was worth $4.8bn in turnover last year and employed 16,000 people.

He highlighted the leading role of British science in developing small satellites and in the field of robotics.