BBC:
The number of students studying A-level physics in the UK has
increased for the fifth consecutive year, by about 6.1% from
last year, writes Pallab Ghosh for the BBC. Commentators
attribute the increase in part to the geek chic image being
promoted by such TV sitcoms as
The Big Bang Theory
. Also, the BBC’s designation of 2010 as the Year of
Science resulted in a number of new science programs, such as
Brian Cox’s popular
Wonders of the Solar System
and
Wonders of the Universe
. Other possible factors include the current economy, which
may be causing students to think more about their future
employment prospects. Nevertheless, Imran Khan, director of the
Campaign for Science and Engineering, cautions that people
shouldn't get too carried away by those results: "Despite
physics breaking into the top 10 A-levels subjects this year,
we've only just got back to 2002 levels in terms of
entries.” A gap still exists between the number of people
with science and tech training and employer demand, according
to Neil Bentley, deputy director general of the Confederation
of British Industry.
