Culture, Media and Sport CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by the Royal Academy of Engineering
Founded in 1976, The Royal Academy of Engineering promotes the engineering and technological welfare of the country. Our fellowship—comprising the UK’s most eminent engineers—provides the leadership and expertise for our activities, which focus on the relationships between engineering, technology, and the quality of life. As a national academy, we provide independent and impartial advice to Government; work to secure the next generation of engineers; and provide a voice for Britain’s engineering community. www.raeng.org.uk
The UK is in the business of high added-value, high-technology, sustainable engineering and manufacturing. In addition it needs to maintain capability in civil engineering, engineering construction, electricity production and distribution, gas, water and sanitation, transportation, process manufacture, nuclear, electronics, food manufacture, fuels, high-value materials, consumer products, IT, software and healthcare services. All depend on engineering knowledge and skills and all are signalling increasing demand and experiencing a scarcity of supply of suitably qualified young people.
Engineering provides a creative and practical curriculum vehicle for young people, enabling the application of mathematics and science to realistic problems that involve purposeful design, innovation, technology, computing, the realisation of functional artefacts and commercial enterprise. It directs pupils to see how they can use what they have learned to solve problems and improve lives.
The Science Museum Group provides a unique and irreplaceable contribution to the hard task of helping young people understand the context and consequences of the application of science, mathematics, computing, engineering and technology to the modern world. As the largest destination for school groups seeking to enrich and enhance the school curriculum and the largest contributor to engaging whole families in science education, it is impossible to understate the contribution made to the formation of the next generation of scientists and engineers.
In addition, the Science Museum is a valuable partner with industry and the engineering profession in promoting scientific literacy and science-related careers including engineering. The Royal Academy of Engineering is coordinating a consortium of engineering employers in the co-funding of a new engineering exhibition that will be mounted in London and then tour the other museums in the Group. This offers the Group significant leverage on the public funds it receives and shows that the Group is working hard to meet the challenges placed on it by the current financial climate. It is undoubtedly worthy of ongoing public support in a mission that is of national and regional importance and that cannot be undertaken by any other body—public or private.
June 2013