1.  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  1.1  Zoos are not traditionally regarded as science or discovery centres but the educational value of living animal and plant collections has been recognized for millennia.

  1.2  Paignton Zoo Environmental Park has a large collection of animal and plant species and a core mission to educate the public about the living world.

  1.3  Paignton Zoo Environmental Park receives approximately 450,000 visitors each year, many of whom would probably not choose to visit a science centre in the traditional sense.

  1.4  Paignton Zoo Environmental Park employs a several qualified teachers, PhD qualified scientific research staff and has a modern veterinary centre so is well placed to deliver scientific education and inspire interest.

  1.5  There are in excess of 40,000 student visits per year receiving formal education sessions within the Zoo.

  1.6  Approximately 100 students each year are helped to conduct biological and environmental research projects within the Zoo.

  1.7  The Zoo provides its own funding to conduct the above activities but is limited in its ability to fund capital developments to build on current capacity.

  1.8  Greater recognition of the scientific and educational potential of zoos would help create more favourable financial conditions.

  1.9  Paignton Zoo Environmental Park provides an excellent setting to promote Government initiatives on climate change, sustainability and development to the general public.

2.  INTRODUCTION TO PAIGNTON ZOO ENVIRONMENTAL PARK

  Paignton Zoo Environmental Park (Paignton, Devon) is an education and scientific charity dedicated to conserving our global wildlife heritage and inspiring in its many visitors a life long respect for animals and the environment. It was founded in 1923 by Herbert Whitley and became a registered charity on his death in 1955. In addition to its extensive animal collection the Zoo also has an impressive plant collection and is recognized as a botanic garden.

  The Zoo's parent body is the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust (WWCT) which also owns two other zoos: Living Coasts (Torquay, Devon) and Newquay Zoo (Newquay, Cornwall), and Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve (South Devon) which is managed by the Field Studies Council.

  Paignton Zoo's Education Department (previously the Devon Zoology Centre) was founded in 1961 and the Field Conservation and Research Department (previously the Science Department) in 1997. The Zoo is recognized as a leading collection within the UK and plays a major role within the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

  This memorandum has been compiled by Simon Tonge (Executive Director), Rob Lovell (Education Officer) and Dr Amy Plowman (Head of Field Conservation and Research).

3.  FACTUAL INFORMATION

3.1  Zoos as Science and Discovery Centres

  Much science learning outside of the classroom takes place in locations not typically considered to be Science or Discovery Centres, for instance zoos. The educational value of zoological collections has been recognized throughout the millennia in cultures around the world. In the immediate post war years in the UK the importance of learning outside the walls of a classroom was established. Museums, art galleries, outdoor pursuit centres, field centres and zoos were recognized as stepping stones that extended the curriculum for individuals to develop attitudes and skills required by contemporary culture.

  Paignton Zoo is visited by approximately 450,000 people each year, many of whom would probably not choose to visit museums or science centres. The zoo therefore has the potential to inspire interest and engagement in biological science in a huge range of people.

  Traditionally zoo education has focused on the biological sciences but these are becoming increasingly technological eg vet centre. More recently other environmental subjects have been included in the zoo's provision and with the current concern over climate change and other environmental issues the scope for zoo education will continue to increase. It is therefore important that zoos are included in any consideration of future funding for Science and Discovery Centres.

3.2  Science education resources at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park

3.2.1  Staff

Education Department

Education Officer

Assistant Education Officer

4 Educators each with specialist areas of expertise

(all the above are qualified teachers and BA Science and Technology Ambassadors)

Field Conservation and Research Department (FCR)   

Head of FCR (PhD)

Senior Zoo Research Officer (PhD)

Zoo Research Officer (PhD candidate)

Assistant Zoo Research Officer (PhD candidate)

Conservation Officer (PhD candidate)

Reserves Warden

(all the above are BA Science and Technology Ambassadors)

Veterinary Department

Veterinary Officer

2 Veterinary nurses

3.2.2  Living collection

  The major educational resources available at the Zoo are obviously its living collection of 297 species of animal and approximately 3000 species of plant. As ambassadors for those in the wild many of these are IUCN threatened species; all of them celebrate the spectacular biodiversity of our planet with fascinating adaptations. The zoo is laid out along a habitat-led theme however our expertise in developing trails and activities means that topics from evolution for A level to Easter eggs for toddlers enable us to encompass a vast spectrum of engagement with science.

  In addition the WWCT owns two nature reserves adjacent to the zoo. One is open to all without payment and the other is open to zoo visitors and includes a Nature Trail with appropriate interpretation. The reserves are used for teaching at many levels; this ranges from pond dipping with primary school students on residential courses to A level ecological methods for FE students.

3.2.3  Physical resources

  The zoo has a purpose built education centre with three classrooms and a nearby lecture theatre seating 60 students. Within this complex we have a discovery centre as well as a 200 square metre exhibition area currently identified as a location for Darwin 200 celebrations. Conferencing facilities for up to 140 within our restaurant are used by local authorities and businesses for in-service training. We also have two additional classrooms for workshop activities and are planning a substantial undercover area as an additional resource for educational events for the general visitor.

  A 160 seat, tiered presentation theatre features a regular programme of animal demonstrations to educate visitors with the qualities and abilities of selected exotic species in entertaining and thought-provoking ways.

  The location of the Zoo in Torbay with distant views of Dartmoor National Park and the immediate view of Tor Bay creates an extremely relevant contextual setting for teaching and demonstrating environmental issues.

3.3  Science education activities

Attendances for formal education

Breakdown of groups 2005

3.3.1  General visitors and community

  The Zoo is a unique environment for special needs groups of all types. These groups demand increased staff involvement however there are special rewards working in the Zoo for both staff and students whether they are students with behavioural difficulties, sensory deprived clients or terminally ill children from hospitals.

  We have strongly committed ourselves to supporting Public awareness of Science. Each year we run a program for Science Week and during Science Year we developed a Science Year branded, trail around the Zoo. For the past two years we have run a science fair during Science Week and this has been in partnership with local science based organizations, Setpoint, BA, Environment Agency and Torbay LEA.

  A major feature within our Education Department is our Discovery Centre which is open throughout the year to general visitors as well as schools. The development and maintenance of this keeps us in contact with science centre organizations throughout the country. Experience gained in our Discovery Centre was essential for development of Investigate at Living Coasts.

  Zoos are excellent venues for engaging families in learning adventures. Although this is embedded within many of our activities we regularly contribute to the National Family Learning Weekend. We are also strong supporters of Sure Start projects in the area and have hosted a variety of activities for local groups. We add value to visits by Holiday clubs and Playschemes as well as contributing to the work of youth groups such as Beavers and Brownies. By the very nature of our organization all of these events include science orientated activities.

  It is within our charitable objectives to work closely with our immediate community and therefore we develop special programmes in association with Torbay Social Services.

  Our Gibbon Club, for friends of the Zoo age 8 to 14, has over 120 children on roll and is run monthly. During the summer we run three, week long summer schools.

3.3.2  School and Pre-school

  Driven by the realities of delivering educational products that are valued by schools and colleges we have regularly focused on Government policies. The National Curriculum is the foundation of work with students from Key stage 1 to 4 and the Foundation Curriculum underpins all we do with preschool groups. More traditional A level courses also have direct relevance to the biology and sustainability issues that engage zoos.

  Residential courses, for both primary and secondary students, are another area of our work that directly benefits local hotels, transport providers and other educational providers.

Although in a totally different league, week long work experience for secondary school students is offered by most Zoo departments.

3.3.3  Further Education

  In order to facilitate the highest preliminary training for the animal care and other land-based industries the Zoo has a longstanding relationship with Bridgwater College. We host a satellite centre for the College where three courses are offered (Level 1 Introductory Certificate in Land and Environment, First Diploma Animal Care, National Diploma Animal Management). Approximately 80 students per year are based at the centre within the Zoo and we provide regular direct work experience with exotic animals for these students. The location within the Zoo and links with Zoo staff add considerable value to the course for the students based here and helps inspire them to pursue careers in this area.

3.3.4  Higher Education

  Since 1998, 70 undergraduate students have been given the opportunity to work on specific research projects with the Field Conservation and Research Department for year-long sandwich placements. The training they receive on experimental design, data collection, analysis and scientific report writing during this year is far more advanced than any they receive during the rest of their undergraduate course. This first-hand experience of the application of scientific methodology in the real world convinces most that they want to follow a science career as can be seen in some typical quotes from students: "My year at the zoo has totally changed my perspective on careers, I am now determined to become a primatologist" (Gemma Price, Bath University), "This has made me realize that my vocation is animal welfare" (Jacqui Caine, Manchester University).

  In addition, approximately 50 undergraduate students in Biological and Environmental disciplines undertake their honours dissertation at the zoo each year. Of these most are supervised by zoo staff and benefit greatly from their experience of conducting research in an applied setting.

  The Field Conservation and Research Department have jointly developed a Masters degree in Zoo Conservation Biology with Plymouth University. The course has been running since 2004 with 15-20 students per year. Hands on experience at the Zoo and lectures, seminars and workshops with Zoo staff give these students a real insight into the theory and application of the scientific principles of zoological conservation and helps inspire them to continue with careers in this field. Many go on to study for PhDs or directly into conservation related careers.

4.  RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

  All activities described to date are funded by admission charges to Paignton Zoo itself and secondary spend through retail and catering activities. Core running expenses will continue to be funded in this way but Zoo revenue is not adequate to fund significant capital expenditure for expansion or renovation of existing facilities. For instance the FCR are working out of a portacabin and IT facilities are quite out of date limiting the numbers of students who can benefit from research experience in the zoo. Occasional grant funding eg grants received from the European Regional Development Fund's Objective 2 and 5 programmes have provided funds for capital development but increasingly EU funds are targeted elsewhere than the UK.

4.1  Increased recognition of the scientific value of zoos

  Such recognition may enable zoos to benefit from financially advantageous situations. For instance the year long sandwich placements we offer to undergraduate students are unpaid. During this year the students are still required to pay university fees but only receive a 50% student loan, making it a very difficult choice for them financially, whereas students on similar placements within universities or research institutes are entitled to receive the full student loan. We believe that these students should be entitled to the full loan.

4.2  Gift Aid and VAT

  Charitable zoos have recently benefited from VAT and Gift Aid concessions that are also available to museums. These concessions are hugely valued and beneficial but are possibly subject to the vagaries of political change and we would like to see their benefits being "locked in" to provide future security. Even with these concessions most charitable zoos are unable to generate sufficient surpluses to cover very significant capital development costs.

4.3  Other considerations

  4.3.1  The National network of Science Learning Centres should be encouraged to consider PZEP and other zoos as specialist host centres for its work providing in-service professional development courses for teachers.

  4.3.2  Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, with its uniquely contextual setting and visitor services along with its location midway between Westcountry major cities of Exeter and Plymouth, should be considered for special funding to develop a new generation science centre.

  4.3.3  The beneficial effects of zoos as "honeypots" attracting inward investment and generating significant economic activity in their local area is increasingly being recognized by Regional Development Agencies but we believe that their potential as centres for the advancement and understanding of science has not been similarly recognized eg by Lottery Funding bodies.

June 2007