The difficulty in attracting students into science and technology courses was highlighted yesterday by the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Commerce, Mr Noel Treacy.
The Minister voiced his concern at the announcement in Limerick of Science Week Ireland.
"Studies carried out on behalf of the Science, Technology and Innovation Awareness Programme show there are misunderstandings among the public about the entry requirements for many science- and technology-related courses," he said.
"Many young people and their parents believe a higher number of points are required for entry to third-level science and technology courses than for other third-level courses. The evidence is, however, that entry points for physics and science in the National University of Ireland, Galway, were lower than for arts and commerce.
"We need to redress this misconception if we are to ensure that our young people become educated and skilled in the disciplines most relevant to their future careers and to the needs of the many existing and future industries," he said.
Mr Treacy said a science, technology and innovation awareness programme could help provide people with the wherewithal to allow them to make better-informed decisions about which course to take at third level.
However, he said, this was not the only reason for an awareness programme. "A much more important reason is that science and technology is fast becoming more important in all our lives, whether it be at our workplace, in our homes or in our leisure activities."
He added: "There is a real buzz in the Ireland of today. Large numbers of Irish people who had left the country to find employment are now returning to well-paid jobs and exciting careers."
The president of the University of Limerick, Dr Roger Downer, is also concerned by the decline in numbers of second-level students electing to study science and the long-term consequences on the national capacity to satisfy demands for skilled workers in the burgeoning high-tech sector.
"The University of Limerick is the largest provider of concurrent teacher education degrees for second-level schools and since 1972 has been the largest single source of science teachers in the country," he said.
The Millennium Science Week Ireland, which will have Limerick as its centre, will run from November 7th to 14th. Other cities which have given a focus to science and technology are Cork, Waterford and Galway. The highlight will be the Limerick Science Fair on Sunday, November 7th, at the University of Limerick. The programme will include a lecture by a NASA astronaut, Dr Stephen Robinson, who has been a member of the space shuttle crew on the past two missions.