Memorandum 29
Submission from the Consortium of Zoos,
Wildlife & nature sites and Aquaria (CZWA)
1. EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
1.1 In order to remain competitive the UK
has a growing need to draw young people and those of all ages
into long term engagement with scientific understanding and endeavour.
In this context the CZWA would ask the Committee to consider carefully
the potential, largely unexploited by Government, inherent in
sites associated with live animal and plants. We offer some considerations
around the size and makeup of the audience at our disposal, the
relevance of the zoo and wildlife site core appeal, the existing
systems and skills constituting a "turn key" opportunity,
and the financial and administrative robustness of the organisations
in question.
1.2 We request discussion around project
(not revenue) funding in a recognition that the "needs"
of a given organisation in itself are irrelevant and inadmissible.
The competence of a given site to deliver the public engagement
in science agenda can be the only fundamental issue.
1.3 We naturally also recognise the continued
need to support our colleagues in sites dealing with scientific
subjects other than the biological or environmental. We acknowledge
that, as a separate matter from our own agenda, there may be a
case to consider the revenue issues of organisations facing financial
sustainability issues.
2. THE CZWA
2.1 The CZWA is an informal grouping of
site based organisations dedicated to conservation and science
based education and which present live animals and plants. We
work closely alongside the British & Irish Association of
Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), with several members also belonging
to ECSITE UK. The CZWA is symptomatic of a broad based, progressive
tendency within the zoo community to develop existing roles in
science education and other socially useful areas. Our current
membership, ranging from the Zoological Society of London to the
Eden Project, is listed at the end of this document.
2.2 The CZWA also exists to articulate the
wider spectrum of socio-environmental benefits produced by nature
sites, zoos and aquariums, and to establish greater acknowledgement
for these from HM Government and other interested parties. To
this end we produced The Manifesto for Zoos in 2004.
3. FUNDING TO
DEVELOP PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT IN
SCIENCE
3.1 In the context of a pressing need to
engage the UK public with scientific issues and with science careers,
the CZWA would urge consideration of project funding (as distinct
from revenue funding) designed to take specific advantage of the
unique emotional and intellectual connectivity and other benefits
held out by sites presenting live animal and plants maintained
in excellent welfare conditions.
3.2 We would stress our recognition of a
continuing need to also support the invaluable work of close colleagues
in museums, the new generation of science discovery centres, and
similar organisations. However, we feel that an opportunity is
being missed to recognize our own separate and unique strengths
as detailed below.
4. THE AUDIENCE
AVAILABLE THROUGH
THE MEMBERS
OF THE
CWZA
4.1 A surprisingly large audience is available
through and at zoos and allied organisations. Some 7.5 million
is on offer through CZWA members, widening to 18 million UK citizens
(¼ of the total UK population) educationally accessible through
all members of BIAZA. Research shows that very nearly every child
in the UK goes through the gates of a UK wildlife site at some
early, formative point.
4.2 This audience refreshes itself on an
annual basis with the average repeat visit to a zoo estimated
at every two years.
4.3 The social inclusiveness of the zoo
and aquarium audience is unique. Research show that no socio-economic
bracket, no level of educational attainment, no ethnic, religious
or cultural allegiance, no age range feels excluded or intimidated
by the very straightforward offer extended by wildlife sites and
zoos.
4.4 The opportunity to see, engage with
and learn about fascinating wild animals and plants in naturalistic
surroundings is a disarmingly straightforward one. This is not
a proposition that has to be argued for, cleverly packaged or
pre-tested. Of their own accord the UK public have been coming
to enjoy learning at zoos and wildlife sites in vast numbers for
170 years. They continue to do so in increasing numbers. At time
of writing (6 June 2007) figures across the UK are very approximately
some 15% up on the previous year.
4.5 Zoos generally charge admission in order
to be financially sustainable. As above however, research shows
that a healthy representations of all elements of society nonetheless
visit. Indeed, people seem to place a special value and credibility
on that which they have paid for, and therefore are more willing
to engage with the zoo science message.
4.6 Although drawn in their millions primarily
by a leisure opportunity, visitors do come actively expecting
to learn, open to new ideas and experiences, primed and willing
to absorb new information.
4.7 In attitude and awareness terms, zoo
visitors also constitute a very broad church, including "hard
to reach" elements in educational terms. Visitors certainly
do see organisations such as the Eden Project, Colchester Zoo
or the Living Rainforest as places where you go to learn. However,
statements made at the outset of their visit sometimes reveal
almost startling degrees of ignorance as to the living world,
fundamental scientific principles, and the sustainability crisis.
4.8 The size and the eagerness of the zoo
audience is clearly not in evidence when the educational offer
remains unleavened with a sufficient offer of plain old fashioned
fun. This has been proven in the unfortunate demise of the Earth
Centre, the recent closure of WildWalk in Bristol and the continuing
difficulty of some Science and Discovery Centres in attracting
sustainable audiences, despite, in many cases, both imaginative
management and high quality product.
5. SYNERGY OF
SUBJECT
5.1 The thematic relevance of zoo and natural
history sites to public engagement in science is self-evident.
The presence of a vast array of fascinating live animals and plants
leads very naturally to educational programmes on all of the bio
sciences as well as the emergent field of environmental science.
5.2 Public aquariums and zoos provide especially
ideal contexts to engage the public with what is arguably the
most important specific scientific issues of our times: climate
change and sustainability.
5.3 Zoos and similar organisations receive
multiple requests on a daily basis for information on careers,
training and volunteering in work involving animals and the environment.
They are therefore well placed to direct elements from amongst
their vast, socially representative audience towards career opportunities
in the bio-sciences, environmental sciences and other relevant
areas.
6. PRE-EXISTING
STRUCTURES AND
PROCESSES
6.1 Zoos and allied institutions are already
very experienced in delivering in public engagement in science.
Many indeed see education as their primary purpose, and all would
see it as an important part of their mission. Most zoos of a certain
size dedicate educational professionals, physical facilities,
and education programmes on a self funded basis.
6.2 There is therefore a straightforward,
"turn key" opportunity for Government to develop the
public engagement in science agenda through these organisations,
where the processes, staff, skills and facilities are already
largely in place.
7. CORE VERSUS
PROJECT FUNDING;
FINANCIAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE ROBUSTNESS
7.1 Core or revenue funding is not an
issue in terms of public engagement with science through zoos.
Although most of the CWZA members are charitable trusts, and all
would adhere to a general "social enterprise" ethos,
these organisations have always had to be entrepreneurial and
remain proud of their efficient trading status. Zoos and the zoo
concept has proven its financial stability for nearly two centuries
now: the model does not require testing or feasibility studies.
They do not need constant "propping up", and indeed
would resist structural funding as this might ultimately lead
to a incipient culture of financial dependence.
7.2 Similarly, zoos are administratively
robust with strong, well weathered systems to deal with finances,
complex projects and the demands of large, diverse groups of people.
7.3 The organisations involved all dispose
of their own education budget, allocated according to changing
institutional priorities. The opportunity exists to draw some
of this resource towards nationally agreed agenda in public engagement
in science buy holding out the possibility of match funding from
HMT.
8. CONCLUSION
It is important to be in clear agreement that
none of the organisations in question are in any sense "deserving"
of any form of funding in themselves. All the public sites that
extend science education, awareness raising and emotional engagement
are merely conduits, and the UK public as end beneficiaries must
be the only ultimate consideration. The outstanding question remains:
where are the most efficient conduits to be found for finite resources?
Well maintained zoos and other natural history
sites revolve around a fundamental human fascination for wildlife.
This simple fascination provides in turn an unparalleled opportunity
to draw young people and those of all ages deeper into the world
of science and learning.
The CZWA would value a considered approach to
a programme of project funding that plays to our strengths and
maximise the obvious synergies.
Membership of the CZWA:
— Bristol, Clifton & West of England
Zoological Society
— Dudley Zoological Society
— John Aspinall Foundation
— Marwell Preservation Society
— National Bird of Prey Centre
— North of England Zoological Society
— Paignton Zoological Society
— Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
— Twycross Zoo East Midland Zoological
Society
— Zoological Society of London
— Zoological Society of Wales
June 2007
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