What's another year - of declining interest in science?

Science and technology are only guaranteed prominence on the news agenda during two weeks of the year. One is in January, when the BT Young Scientist Exhibition helps to fill the news vacuum created by the post-Christmas lull.

The other is in August, when the leaving certificate exam results become available, and employers' lobby groups like IBEC , ICT Ireland and The American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland line up to complain - or, in lobbyist speak, 'express serious concern' - about Irish students' declining interest in science and maths. It's a wholly predictable annual ritual.

The proposed solutions to this perceived problem include overhauling teaching, establishing incentives - for both science teachers and science students - and improving the 'image' of science-based careers. Interestingly, none of the concerned employers seems to feel the need to work on improving the actual substance of the careers they offer [economic circs permitting].

Better teaching - of any subject - is always a good thing, so if genuine improvements in science education can be made, let's have them. Giving students accurate and useful careers information can only be a good thing too. But pandering to disinterested second-level students and then shoehorning them into unsuitable university courses will not work. Arguably, we're already doing this to an extent.

Of course, the phenomenon is by no means unique to Ireland. It's on the OECD radar as well. But one voice seems to be entirely absent from this debate - that of the students themselves. Why are they opting out of science? Are they wilfully turning their backs on lucrative, rewarding careers? Or do they simply see more attractive options elsewhere?