Ensuring a future for research excellence The foundations of technology are based on the excellence of its contributors. European research has developed a dynamic new education initiative to train our budding new scientists and keep them on the track for a career in the pursuit of scientific excellence. Climate Change and Environment © Shutterstock The continued success of the European Research Area (ERA) rests on whether Europe can continue to produce young people with the right skills and competencies to be able to take on future challenges. Today, a fast-growing global knowledge base means that as well as motivation and ability to team-work, the young researcher must be able to sift through a vast amount of information to extract what is most relevant. Application of this knowledge in research is the desired outcome. The overall aim of the EU-funded project 'Form - it "Take part in research"' (Form-it) was to contribute to the promotion of interest of young people in science and to qualify them for a critical and complex way of thinking. Form-it developed and is continuing to provide a platform for supporting the modernisation of science education throughout Europe. The key to realising these ambitious goals was the formation of Research and Cooperation (REC) entities where a research partner is teamed up with one or more educational partners. The project consortium also promoted awareness of essential framework conditions for REC and its value to policymakers, and used relevant research questions on REC as a new model of science teaching. To spread the Form-it word, a conference in Vienna presented good practice examples extracted from the work of RECs. A catalogue of good educational practices based on a survey has also been published and extensive networking was achieved in expert groups at workshops. There is also a report giving details of more than 30 good practice examples of REC activities including photographs and containing input from participants. Topics varied widely – from archaeology to molecular biology and genetics. The Form-it project and all the children who participated are testament to a dynamic new form of education that can increase the interest of young people in science. This promises to narrow the gap between education and science and contribute to a more competitive Europe in the technology arena.
