Scotland could be losing 5500 gifted young scientists every year despite demand for skilled employees in science and technical roles, according to research commissioned by oil giant Shell UK.
Scotland could be losing 5500 gifted young scientists every year despite demand for skilled employees in science and technical roles, according to research commissioned by oil giant Shell UK.
A poll of nine to 14-year-olds has revealed that although one-third are inspired by science, many are making an early decision not to pursue it beyond the age of 16. Just 5% of Scottish children want to be a scientist, compared to 20% who want to be a footballer, 18% an actor, 13% a hairdresser and 1% a politician.
There is also a limited awareness of famous scientists, engineers and inventors, with 53% failing to identify Alexander Graham Bell - credited with inventing the telephone.
The findings are at odds with a weekend report by the Royal Society, which claimed more Scottish schoolchildren are sitting post-compulsory exams in physics, chemistry, biology and maths than any other UK region.
The study claimed 12% of 16-year-olds sat Higher Physics compared with 3.6% of 17-year-olds studying the subject to A-level in England, 4.8% in Northern Ireland and 2.8% in Wales, while for maths it was 28% in Scotland compared with 8.1% in England.
However, according to the Shell poll, 88% of nine-year-olds already have a firm or good idea of what they want to do in the future and are failing to choose science careers due to a limited understanding of what a "scientist" does.
The poll claimed 34% are turned off a career in science because they do not want to sit in a laboratory all day, while one-quarter feel they could get a better-paid job.
Nearly half failed to recognise that a career in plastic surgery would require an understanding of science, while one-quarter of becoming an astronaut.
John Gallagher, vice president with Shell UK, said: "Scotland has a rich scientific heritage with luminaries such as Alexander Graham Bell and Alexander Fleming achieving international recognition for their discoveries.
"However, our research shows many of today's children don't realise just where science can take them. Our challenge is not just to ignite children's interest in science but to keep them engaged - through school, college and beyond. We know from our workshops that children have a natural interest in science but it's clear that too many potential scientists are slipping through the net."
Although the Scottish findings are broadly in line with the UK statistics, there are a few significant anomalies. For example, 32% of Scottish pupils place PE as their favourite subject, compared with 23% across the UK.
