Awareness of science allows people to hold leaders to account and is an essential part of democracy, Britain’s first astronaut has said.
Dr Helen Sharman said the world is changing rapidly and science can play a vital role in solving major issues such as climate change.
She is supporting the MARSBalloon Thales Alenia Space project which will launch more than 150 test capsules designed by UK schoolchildren into the Earth’s atmosphere.
Dr Sharman told PA News: “The world is changing very fast and I think it will be Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) opportunities, I think, most of those jobs out there are futures for young people.
“Of course you don’t have to make a Stem and get into space.
“But really, I think Stem subjects will give you a lot of opportunities that you can’t think of right now, just like I went into space and I never thought my degree in chemistry would take me there. ”
According to a study commissioned by Thales Alenia Space, in the UK the pandemic has motivated more than a third (35%) of children to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.
Most are motivated to become doctors or nurses (29%) and astronauts (25%).
Dr Sharman said science had become a part of everyday life over the past year and people had seen that it can solve problems and make an impact.
She told PA: “Young people are interested in all sorts of things in their lives. And they are also very interested in some of these big issues, and we know that young people are very interested in things like climate change. ”
She said: “Things like climate change, of course, the pandemic too – all of these are big conditions that young people understand that science can be at the heart of solving.
“We cannot solve climate change without science.”
She said: “Getting young people involved in (science) is vital because they are our future, and they will help solve these big issues in the future.
“But even more than that. I think if we all embrace aspects of science, it means we connect science into our lives, we are not afraid, we do not bother to ask questions.
“And we can ask questions to find out the answer, but we can also ask our leaders questions, we can hold them to account, make sure our leaders make the right decisions for their business. the whole world.
“Of course that brings us back to the issue of climate change and makes sure that the leaders don’t just go gung-ho after one particular aspect of something they are interested in, but we want them to do the right decisions for everyone on this planet.
“So I think, science is very important – it’s about being part of a democracy, as well as opportunities in later life. ”
In 1989 Dr Sharman became the first British astronaut when he was selected for the UK-Soviet Juno joint mission.
However, she explained that there are a lot of jobs in the space industry, and children can start getting involved now by participating in the MARSBalloon project, which will start recording on April 1st.
Dr Sharman said: “This is the job (astronaut) that many people want but very few people get to the end.
“But I think it’s not just the astronauts but the whole aspect of space lighting is interesting and human space lighting is special because the children are thinking about how they would feel if they would be there.
“But he’s not saying they’re not interested in being astronauts.”