Letters archive

The number of children studying the most traditional science subjects may be in decline, but the picture is dramatically different for psychology. Psychology at A level is the fastest growing subject and the ratio of applicants to university places is now in the region of 40:1. It is worth noting that more women are choosing …

I managed to get into an old polytechnic (recently made into a university) with only two A levels at E grade; no clearing, just straight in. Does this mean my course is for those 'scrapings' whose abilities in biology are vocational, not purely academic as at the 'proper' universities? This sort of bigotry could be …

Recently much has been made of the fall in students entering university to study physics. As a sixth-former applying to university, I believe that the problem is the approach of the physics A level. Physics is presented as a series of seemingly unconnected phenomena, each defined as a set of equations. Not enough basic principles …

Oliver Tickell has let his emotions run away with his facts in his article advocating higher taxes on the quarrying industry (Forum, 23 October). The truth is a little less sensational. Quarrying does not cause 'monstrous environmental damage' - it is a very small and discreet user of land, usually well screened from view and …

David Hamilton's recent review of my book Silicon Samurai (2 October) presents a view of the information technology industry that must be challenged, lest readers come away with the wrong impression that Japan is finished and that the West is posed to recapture lost markets. Hamilton seems to think that improvements in the performance of …

Mine eyes (and yours) tell me that your illustration of a leopard's spots ('Let T equal tiger', 6 November) is but a leopard clad in a jaguar's coat. Geoffrey Stanford Dallas Nature Centre Dallas, Texas, US

Re your editorial concerning John Patten's desire to increase the number of scientists in higher education (4 December). In the last two years I have spent time visiting various career fairs throughout the country. When I ask students who are doing science at A level why they do not wish to study science at University …

To say that science is in decline does not surprise me. May I suggest that this trend could possibly have something to do with science subjects being hard and, after much work and study at university, there are very few jobs and the dole queue awaits the unsuspecting - just like me. As an honours …

Should we not try to discover the perceptions that students have of the different vocations and the people who follow them? I suspect that they see scientists as 'brainy but bloodless'. If this proves to be the case, it should not surprise us. Students have little contact with science outside the classrooms and school laboratories. …

It is in the interests of the country to have a scientifically literate population. The introduction of the national curriculum in science, once the first 5-year-olds exit from the system in 2001, will provide a firm foundation for this. What we must ensure is that sufficient well qualified and talented people follow scientific studies: quality …

Your editorial states: 'Students will not want to take two or three A/S levels as well as a couple of A levels because A levels are what count with universities and employers.' As Patten is committed to retaining A levels, he must take positive action to make A/S levels more attractive. There are two easy …