The South West of England Regional Development Agency (the SWRDA) is pleased to respond to the Science and Technology Committee inquiry into funding of science and discovery centres. The SWRDA is making this submission at the specific request of the Committee.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  Science and discovery centres can and do play a significant roles in :

—  Education—promoting science and technology from pre-learning thru primary, secondary, FE, HE and ongoing continuous professional development.

—  Public Engagement—helping to develop a science literate population, engaging the public in debates on scientific issues.

  They also play a role in local regeneration and economic development by:

—  helping attract people to visit an area, playing a key part in the cultural offer, helping raise aspirations amongst young people, encouraging collaboration and promoting technology and innovation.

MAIN POINTS

  1.  The long term financial sustainability of science and discovery centres has not been achieved in the South West. There is a need for ongoing investment from a range of sources to ensure that such centres can deliver their educational programmes and expand and refresh their exhibits and facilities on an ongoing basis to ensure visitors continue to attend.

  2.  We are currently working with a number of such centres across the region to help try and address those sustainability issues but we believe it is not just a South West problem but an issue across England.

  3.  One of the Region's main science and discovery centres, At Bristol, recently had to close two (Wildwalk and IMAX) of its four attractions (the Explore Science Centre and Planetarium remain) in order to move towards financial sustainability.

  4.  Science and discovery centres play an important educational role in engaging the wider public, and importantly young people, in science/innovation. They also have a key economic role in helping to raise the profile of an area or in the case of the Eden Project in Cornwall helping to significantly improve and transform the local economy.

  5.  These centres have a key role in helping young people understand and better engage with science and technology. They help encourage and increase the numbers of young people undertaking science and technology related subjects at all levels. Securing an early interest in science is highly important and activities target those below school age as well.

  6.  It is important that the current and future workforce have the skills to meet the needs of the growing number of science and technology related companies. A large proportion of the future workforce for these companies is already at work so up-skilling the workforce and increasing their interest in science and technology is also important.

  7.  The Bristol city region has been designated one of six Science Cities in England. This status recognises the strengths and achievements in world class scientific research, innovation and development in the city regions academic and industrial sectors.

  8.  Science City Bristol's programme of activity recognises the importance of science and discovery centres in helping deliver its public engagement aim to build a sustained interest in science and raise the aspirations of young people.

  9.  The ability to develop a more science literate population is essential if we are to have sensible debates on critical issues (like climate change, nanotechnology and stem cell research). It is also important in making sure we make the right strategic investments in science and technology.

  10.  There is evidence of market failure in the current operating models for many science and discovery centres. They are expected to and do deliver a significant amount of public good benefits but have to do so on a tourism/visitor attraction based business model.

SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

  11.  The South West of England Regional Development Agency was established in 1999. Our most important role is to ensure the long-term economic success of the region.

  12.  Central to the long-term economic success of South West England will be making sure the region has the right skills among its workforce, the most innovative businesses, and a high quality environment, both physical and cultural.

June 2007