NEPIC Science Education Unit

CHILDREN CHALLENGING INDUSTRY (CCI)

Date: Ongoing
Location: Various
Key Stage: KS1&2

Background

Children Challenging Industry is an initiative run by York University and is supported by NEPIC. In 1994, a MORI poll indicated that the public perception of the chemical industry remained at a low level and that children had limited, and in some cases no knowledge of chemical manufacturing. The project was set up to tackle this and to encourage positive perceptions of industry as a whole. An advisory teacher works in schools in his/her region to provide a range of motivating science activities set in real industrial contexts.

Reasons

- Change perception of the chemical industry
- Make science more interesting to children
- Help teachers to be better teachers of science. On average, a teacher will teach 16,000 pupils during their career (importance of impact)
- Appreciation of the chemical industry
- Long term sustainability of the chemical industry (i.e.. Future recruitment)

Approach

- Classroom sessions
- Teacher training
- Pre and post evaluation of views of children and teachers
- Site visits

Links

Link to CCI – University of York Website