Science in Society: Dialogues and Scientific Responsibility

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Date: 25/11/2008
Answering an invitation of Michel Claessens, Mudite Kalnina from Latvia representing MILSET Europe made a presentation of her work in Latvia in during an event organised by the Europe Presidency in Paris, France.

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The  role of out of class education  in promoting the interest of youth  in science.
(An experience,Latvia)

A significant role in science teaching in Latvia is played by extra curricular work which is done at school and out of school. A recognized activity to raise pupils’ interest in science is the organization and managing of pupils’ research on three levels – school, region and state. The organization of pupils ‘research activity is set up by the regulation of Ministry of Education and Science.

The research work  is done  by senior form pupils (aged 16-19) of secondary  schools.The pupils can choose the field in which to carry out the research work themselves or they do it encoureged by their teachers.The majority of pupils’ research works are carried out at school and the leaders of their research works are teachers , but  research projects can be carried out also in science and culture centres, research  institutes, establishments of higher learning, enterprises etc. supervised by relevant specialists.Senior form pupils do research in exact sciences, social sciences and humanities (22 domains are offered). About 500 research projects are submitted to the Conference- Contest which is held at the University of Latvia every year. The authors of the best research projects are matriculated at the University of Latvia. Training courses  for the teachers - the leaders of pupils’ research works are organized.

The summer school – seminar „Alfa” has been organized for 41 years running in some  school  in a picturesque country place.The participants of the school – seminar are the pupils (aged 16-18) who have achieved good results in science. The summer school – seminar „Alfa”is organized with the aim of enhancing pupils’ knowledge in the chosen field of science. The educational forms  in  „Alfa” are –lectures, practical work, research work (individual and in teams).The classes are run by the teachers of the University, research institutions and guest lecturers from abroad.The pupils gain from meeting equals in age who are interested in science, they gain from talking to scientists, playing sports together. A number of former participants of the summer school- seminar „Alfa” have joined the ranks of the scientific community, some have become leading persons in various fields of social life in Latvia but all of them have become able to engage critically with science in their lives.

Mudite Kalnina