EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  The Oxford Trust has been a key player in the science centre field for over 15 years through Curioxity and Science Oxford. These two centres have made a significant contribution to raising the public profile of science and technology in Oxfordshire and in encouraging young people to consider careers in science. The set-up and operation of both centres has only been possible with subsidy from the Trust's asset base and the case is made here that government funding should be made available to science centres to enable them to deliver on their cultural and educational missions.

1.  THE ROLE OF THE OXFORD TRUST IN PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

1.1  Background

  The Oxford Trust is a charitable organisation founded by Sir Martin and Lady Wood in 1985 to "encourage the study, application and communication of science, technology and engineering".

  It does this through a programme of activities to meet three key objectives:

—  To encourage economic growth through innovation and technology transfer.

—  To excite and enthuse young people about science.

—  To stimulate and facilitate public engagement with science.

  The Trust is funded by a combination of income from its assets and investments, sponsorship and grants from third parties, and revenue from activities and membership subscriptions.

1.2  Curioxity

  The Trust was one of the early pioneers of Science Centres setting up Curioxity, a small interactive gallery in The Old Fire Station, in Oxford in 1990. Set up entirely with the Trust's own capital and run pretty much on a shoestring, Curioxity received in excess of 150,000 visitors during its 15 years and developed an extensive range of shows and workshops for delivery in schools. At some point in their primary education almost every child in Oxfordshire during the late nineties will have benefited from either a visit to Curioxity or one of its outreach activities in their own school.

1.3  Science Oxford

  In 2005, the Oxford Trust decided to experiment with a completely new type of science centre with adults as its primary audience but also providing a new interactive gallery for children, Hands-on, carrying on the work of Curioxity. Science Oxford, located in a refurbished car showroom in Oxford, is the scientific equivalent of an Arts Centre. It is a stylish and contemporary venue that:

—  encourages the pursuit of science and enterprise;

—  makes science an integral part of the cultural life of Oxfordshire;

—  provides a focal point for the engagement between the scientific community and the public;

—  encourages young people to become scientists, technicians and engineers;

—  is socially inclusive, engaging audiences not traditionally interested in science;

—  improves understanding of the science-society relationship; and

—  contributes to the economic growth of Oxfordshire.

  Once again the capital costs of the centre were entirely funded from the Trust's own resources. The box-office take is supplemented by sponsorship, grants and corporate hire but this still only covers about 60% of the running costs with the Trust subsidising the remainder from its endowment.

  The longer-term plan is for Science Oxford to be located in a wonderful new building in Oxford's new West End development area providing an alternative iconic image for Oxford that embeds the spirit of science and enterprise in the cultural map of the city.

1.4  Partnerships

  Partnership working is integral to the success of both Curioxity and Science Oxford. Nationally, we work extensively with other science centres through ecsite-uk and the British Interactive Group. The Oxford Trust is the SETPOINT for Oxfordshire, Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire and works in close collaboration with key regional players including SEEDA and the Science Learning Centre SE.

  Locally, the Trust has strong links with the universities, research organisations, businesses and public sector bodies in Oxfordshire. The Oxford Trust works extensively with research scientists to help bring their science to the public in a whole variety of ways at Science Oxford and other locations around the county.

  Science Oxford is recognised as being a part of the cultural landscape of the county. It was an integral part of Oxford's European Capital of Culture bid and there is ongoing close collaboration with museums, galleries, theatres and other cultural organisations in Oxfordshire.

2.  ATTRACTING YOUNG PEOPLE TO SCIENCE SUBJECTS AND SCIENTIFIC CAREERS

2.1  Impact and effectiveness

  Science centres offer an unparalleled learning experience at a time when science is becoming less attractive and less popular in schools.

  Through Curioxity and Science Oxford and their outreach activities, The Oxford Trust has at some point over the last 15 years worked with every primary and secondary school in Oxfordshire.

  In 2006, the numbers of schools students reached were 3,600 KS1, 10,000 KS2, 7,000 KS3, 4,000 KS4 and 500 KS5 and over 250 teachers took part in our CPD activities.

2.2  Outreach with schools

  The Trust works extensively with other SETPOINTS, Science Centres and scientists sharing best practice and developing and delivering collaborative projects. Currently these include:

—  Discovery South East—a three year partnership with all South East SETPOINTS delivering curriculum-linked science and technology workshops for primary schools. Involves 3,500 pupils in Yr1 rising to 5,800 in Y3 and over 40 Science Engineering Ambassadors.

—  Meet the Gene Machine—performance and discussion for pupils and CPD for teachers on ethical issues raised by advances in genetic science. Funded by The Wellcome Trust it is a partnership with seven other science centres with each centre due to deliver to 1,400 KS4/5 pupils and 120 teachers during 2007.

—  Joining Forces—a transition project for KS2/3 pupils with INTECH and Techniquest. Involves all Y6 pupils from 25 primaries, the same pupils return as Y7 secondary.

—  E4 (Engaging Employers, Enriching Education)—a joint project with The Industrial Trust project including "From the cutting edge to the classroom" in which scientists from research and business will engage with Yr12 and 13 students and their teachers about the commercial exploitation of science.

3.  THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO SUCH CENTRES FROM CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

3.1  New genre

  The number of science centres in the UK has grown considerably from the pioneering days of Curioxity. Some of these centres, like Science Oxford, have been funded through private means and charitable trusts. Several major new science centres were set up around 2000 with major capital funding from the Millennium Commission.

  It has taken some time for science centres to be seen as a recognisable genre. The centres vary considerably in size, scope and visitor numbers. They are not, as some seem to think, simply sophisticated playgrounds for families with young children. No-one has invested money over the years simply to create leisure attractions. The centres have been set up to reinforce the place of science and technology in the cultural, social and economic life of the nation by improving science and technology education and by promoting public awareness of, and engagement with, science.

  They span what historically may have been called "The Two Cultures" and herein lies the key problem. There is not an obvious fit with a single government department and no one government department is prepared to take responsibility for them.

  Even within the categories of lottery funding there is no obvious channel of funding available to a science centre as a recognisable genre as opposed to Arts, Heritage and Sport which are all seen as valid cultural pursuits.

3.2  Funding gap

  Science centres are entrepreneurial by nature and they are committed to helping themselves.

  We, like other science centres, have had some success in securing short-term funding and grants from various private and public sources but this is somewhat ad hoc, extremely time consuming and cannot be relied upon in any long term planning. We attempt at all times to maximise revenue from box office and corporate hire without comprising our educational mission.

  But our experience, borne out with others both nationally and internationally, is that all science centres need a modest amount (on average 30-35%) of public sector revenue support to complement earned income if they are to deliver on their cultural and educational missions.

  The Trust is fortunate to have had an endowment which has been able to support the relatively small-scale operation of Curioxity and Science Oxford. As we look to a bigger and better Science Oxford in the West End of Oxford we will inevitably be in the position of many of our fellow science centres in suffering from a funding gap.

  Science centres are a huge asset for the UK in the 21st century. In Britain we have a bad habit of waiting until there is a crisis until we properly fund valuable services.

  We urge the government to identify a department to take reposnsibiity for science centres and to consider ways in which it can offer a systematic method of providing long-term revenue and capital support comparable to that provided to other cultural sectors.