Chairman of the Chemical Business Association (CBA), Ken Gilkes, has called for a renaissance in chemistry education in order to meet the future needs of society and the chemical industry
Addressing more than 1200 representatives of member companies and their guests at CBA's Annual Lunch at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London, Ken Gilkes also called on member companies to financially support the CBA's education initiative for primary schools - Chemistry with Cabbage.
"Chemistry is vital and to persuade our young people to take an interest in it is essential for the future well-being of our industry.
"To achieve this, youngsters must be enthused by chemistry as a subject - so cultivating interest at primary school age is critical," he said.
The CBA has expressed its deep concern about the trend for science - and particularly chemistry - education.
The number of secondary school students taking chemistry has fallen by 37% in the last ten years.
This means that almost 15,000 fewer students have taken the subject.
The figures for the decline in students taking physics are even worse.
Universities have suffered the knock-on effect with a decline in students taking physics and chemistry causing the closure of many university science departments.
Ken Gilkes told his audience that CBA's award-winning Chemistry with Cabbage initiative was designed to encourage an interest in chemistry by providing hands-on workshops using familiar chemicals found in every home - such as sugar, soap and vinegar.
Each year, Chemistry with Cabbage delivered workshops to more that 2500 pupils in over 80 schools in the north west and south of England.
"A small number of CBA members have generously funded Chemistry with Cabbage over the last eight years.
"But I would like to give a lot more nine to 11 year-olds in other parts of the UK the chance to take part in this programme, so I have written to all CBA members to ask if they would financially support this initiative on a national basis," he said.
