Summary
This Report, ‘The Funding
of Science and Discovery Centres’ (HC 903-I), examines the role and
effectiveness of science centres, how science centres are co-ordinated and
organised, and how they are funded.
Science and discovery centres
make up an extremely diverse group, with the common characteristic being the
use of interactive exhibits to promote awareness of scientific issues and to
spark people's curiosity, particularly those of children and young people. They
provide informal education in all kinds of scientific and technological areas
including astronomy, ecology, energy generation, engineering, marine biology,
medicine, and physics.
The Committee's findings include that in the
short term, given that a number of science centres are struggling financially
and risk closure, the Government should make available limited, competitively
awarded, short-term funding to support these centres as well as reducing the
tax burden on science and other educational centres. However, the Committee
agrees with the Government's stance that it should not fund failing centres and
recommends that the Government commission independent research to ascertain
their effectiveness.
Ecsite-uk is well placed to assess models that
exist in Scotland and internationally, with a view to implementing structural
and best practice guidance that promotes co-ordination between science centres
across the UK. The Report also welcomes the offer by the Department for
Innovation, Universities and Skills to take responsibility for science centres
and recommends that this responsibility be formally written into the
Ministerial portfolio.
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