But pandemic is inspiring more young people to consider a career in science, survey finds
The overwhelming majority of young people in the UK think scientists and politicians are leaving them out of the Covid-19 conversation, according to a survey carried out by the British Science Association and One Poll.
The survey of 1,000 14 to 18-year-olds across the UK revealed that 89 per cent of them do not think scientists are talking to them when discussing the pandemic.
And over a third of young people trust their family more than they do scientists when it comes to Covid-19.
The BSA is now calling on the government to ensure that young people are not “missed out of the Covid-19 conversation, and that their voices and concerns are heard and addressed”.
“The impact of this public health crisis on young people—their education, future plans and employment prospects—is huge, but is not something that has been given sufficient airtime in the public discussions or government press conferences,” said Katherine Mathieson, chief executive of the BSA.
On the plus side, the survey found “a marked uplift in young people who would now consider working in a scientific field as a result of Covid-19—with 37 per cent of young people now more likely to consider a scientific career”.
“We believe it is critical that government, industry and academia find ways to nurture this increased appetite in the wake of the crisis, to build a sustainable and diverse science workforce for the future,” the BSA said.