UNESCO publication

The popularisation of science and technology from an educational designer's standpoint
by Fred Goffree

POPULARIZATION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
What Informal and Nonformal Education Can Do?

An International Conference organized by
Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong
in co-operation with UNESCO, Paris
September 4-9, 1989

Edited by
Cheng Kai Ming
Leung Kam Fong

3.2.5 Federation 'De Jonge Onderzoeker' (The Young Researcher)

In 1967 a Dutch broadcasting corporation according to the US Science Fairs model organized a contest for young researchers. Two years later the Stichting 'De Jonge Onderzoeker' (the Young Researcher) was established, to which Prince Bernhard, husband of the then queen Juliana, was appointed honorary chairman. In the years between 1970 and 1985 the Foundation issued a periodical of its own and organised local 'juvenile laboratories' in particular. (The first in 1969 at the Evoluon at Eindhoven.)- The Foundation has meanwhile been changed to a Federation of the local foundations which are kept going through sponsoring and municipal contributions. Until this day the periodical 'De Jonge Onderzoeker' has been published as a quire of the popular-scientific periodical 'Mens en Wetenschap' (Man and Science).

The activities of 'De Jonge Onderzoeker' may be regarded as popularisation of science and technique for young people. the activities are performed in nonscholastic settings and inspire an indeed small group of youngsters to make major intellectual efforts on different levels. Things that remain hidden in the education programs of the various schools (mainly creative occupation with concrete material in projects) are limelighted in the juvenile laboratories. For a few years now attempts have been made to rouse the interest of girls as well ('Techniek 10' for girls only and the Foundation 'Jeugd en Techniek' for girls and boys alike). Annually, contests are organized as well as the 'Dutch Science Week' for juvenile European researchers, but also contacts are established with other countries: young dutch researchers are sent to workshops abroad and assistance is rendered in the equipping of juvenile laboratories (of which there are twelve in the Netherlands and where one or more of the following subjects are being studied: chemistry, electronics, geology modelmaking, biology, photography, computers, physics, rocket construction and video), whereby the Government assists in developing a curriculum for the subject 'Techniek', which will be introduced before long in secondary education.