Why choose physics and chemistry? The influences on physics and chemistry subject choices of BME students

Clients: Royal Society of Chemistry, Institute of Physics

NFER Contact: Iain Springate

In 2006, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and the Institute of Physics (IOP) found that certain black and ethnic minority (BME) students are disproportionately lost from physics and chemistry to alternative subjects and career paths (Elias et al., 2006). The RSC and the IoP commissioned the NFER to investigate the influences on BME students’ subject and career choices with regard to chemistry and physics through a qualitative study.

Reference

Elias, P., Jones, P. and McWhinnie, S. (2006). Representation of Ethnic Groups in Chemistry and Physics: a Report Prepared for the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Physics [online]. Available:http://www.ioppublishing.co.uk/activity/policy/Publications/file_8863.pdf [10 April, 2007].

Time scale: March 2007 - November 2008

NFER Project Code: AUC

Findings/Reports

• Summary report
• Full report
• Research summary