Improving young people's engagement with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)

Skills shortages in STEM sectors represent a real threat to the UK’s capacity for growth. Even in the current recessionary period, employers cannot find enough future employees suitably qualified in STEM to meet demand. Although young people value mathematics and science education, many do not study STEM subjects beyond GCSE and too few are currently inspired by STEM to pursue such choices beyond compulsory education. This paper, published to coincide with Science and Engineering Week 2013, presents NFER’s research evidence about what works to encourage further engagement in, and take-up of, STEM subjects. NFER calls on policymakers, schools, colleges, STEM employers, professional bodies and the research community to work together to ensure that successful strategies become more widespread

Maths and physics teacher supply package

Process evaluation of four strands of the maths and physics supply package, with recommendations for evaluation of the full programme

Temporal variations in English Populations of a forest insect pest, the green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum), associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation and global warming

Based on an exceptionally long modern ecological dataset (41 years), it has been possible to show that warm weather in England associated with a positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index causes the spring migration of the green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum), a pest species of spruce trees (Picea) to start earlier, continue for longer and contain more aphids. An upward trend in the NAO index during the period 1966-2006 is associated with an increasing population size of E. abietinum. It is important to understand the mechanisms behind the population fluctuations, because this aphid causes considerable damage to Picea plantations. Present day weather associated fluctuations in forest insect pests may be useful analogues in understanding past pest outbreaks in forests