I came across an article the other day on the BBC news website discussing a research survey of over 1200 pupils in England, aimed to provide some answers as to the apparent decline in the take-up of physical science-related studies in schools. The University of Leeds report reviewed in the article is actually part of a global study, 'Relevance of Science Education', based at Oslo University, and the results were common to most of the developed world, according to research emerging from more than 40 nations taking part in the work.

What I found interesting is how strongly it highlighted the differences between the basic interests of each gender. Certainly, one would expect that there would be some differences between the genders, but wow, this survey sure shows males to be a destruction-focussed bunch of neandarthals (ok, those are my words, but still..) and females far more what I would term 'civilized' or humanitarian in their interests. Why would I say that? Take a look at the results. The study, based on responses to 250 questions, found that boys had a strong interest in space and destructive technologies. Their top turn-off was a lesson on alternative therapies. Favourite topics for boys were (insert some Tim 'The Toolman' Taylor caveman grunts after each):

• Explosive chemicals.
• How it feels to be weightless in space.
• How the atom bomb functions.
• Biological and chemical weapons.
• Black holes and supernovae.
• How meteors, comets or asteroids cause disasters on earth.
• The possibility of life outside earth.
• How computers work.
• Effect of strong electric shocks and lightning on the body.
• Dangerous animals.

Girls, however, preferred to learn about their own bodies. They wanted to know...

• Why we dream and what it means.
• What we know about cancer and how to treat it.
• How to perform first-aid.
• How to exercise to keep fit.
• Sexually transmitted diseases and how to protect against them.
• What we know about HIV/AIDS and how to control it.
• Life and death and the human soul.
• Biological and human aspects of abortion.
• Eating disorders.
• How alcohol and tobacco might affect the body.

The two genders did agree on what they least wanted to learn about - neither was interested in studying modern farming methods and neither wanted to know about 'famous scientists and their lives'. That's modern society for you though - I think maybe some of these students just take a lot of things for granted today and don't think much about how things came to be.

The number taking A-level physics dropped by 34% between 1991 and 2004. The decline in numbers taking chemistry over the same period was 16%. The number of students taking maths also dropped by 22%. This may be a good hint as to what careers younger students should be aiming for in the future if they want work, as there's obviously going to be a shortage..

Interesting huh? Source article: Science interests split the sexes, BBC news online.