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BRIGHTMINDS ENCOURAGES GIRLS TO TAKE A BRIGHTER VIEW OF SCIENCE
Added: (Fri Nov 23 2007)
For immediate release
BRIGHTMINDS ENCOURAGES GIRLS TO TAKE A BRIGHTER VIEW OF SCIENCE
The latest brochure from educational toy specialists, BrightMinds, features over 400 new products, each carefully selected to stimulate the minds of children aged between 5 and 14.
One of the biggest changes to the new catalogue is the expansion of the science range to 28 pages and a brand new section dedicated exclusively to ‘Girls’ Science’.
Alison Quill, founder of BrightMinds and ex-secondary school Science Teacher has a personal mission to reverse the stereotypical view that boys are better at science and get girls more interested.
Recent statistics from the Institute of Physics shows that there is a significant reduction in the amount of students opting to take physics at A level in general. But the most drastic drop has come from girls who account for only 22% of the total number taking the course*.
But despite this under-representation, and contrary to popular belief, girls outperform the boys in terms of achievement with 34% obtaining an A grade compared to only 27% of boys. In light of this, Alison is determined that perceptions about girl’s ability to get to grips with the laws of science must be challenged. ‘Parents, teachers and students need to get out of the mindset that science is a boy’s subject. But so do the toy manufacturers. Take a look at most science-based toys and the images on the packaging almost always show boys and boys exclusively.
Through the new BrightMinds catalogue, Alison Quill is determined to introduce the young
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female population to science in a fun and interactive way. The new double page spread
section features such carefully selected products as a perfume laboratory, a Bath Bomb Factory and a Soap Science Lab. Geomag, the famous magnetic construction system also plays a role in the new catalogue in colours exclusively for a female audience – Shimmer Pink, Glitter and ‘Pastelles’. ‘It would be great if all parents could make a pledge to purchase at least one science related gift for their daughters this Christmas that they can use and enjoy at home, maybe we can make some headway towards encouraging greater take up amongst female students’.
To get hold of the new BrightMinds catalogue, simply call 0870 44 22 144 or order on line at www.brightminds.co.uk. Delivery is free for UK mainland internet orders over £75.
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Further press information available from: Heloise d’Souza, Watershed PR, Tel: 01308 485693/07770 988 612, heloise@watershedpr.co.uk
Note to editors:
• BrightMinds was recently placed alongside Argos in the Daily Telegraph’s top ten mail order catalogues available in the UK
• The top paying jobs across the UK, Canada and the US according to alec.co.uk are in the medical profession, all of which require a science-based degree
• Alison Quill is available for interview
* 2005 figures