Education and skills

Innovation and the voice of young people

Innovation and the voice of young people

“If we expect young people to acquire skills and knowledge to save us as a species, it is not only reasonable but a moral imperative to involve them in the planning and delivery of learning, and to listen to their opinions and ideas,” argues Rick Hall

Why science in schools can be a big switch-off

Why science in schools can be a big switch-off

NESTA Crucible participant Jon Copley and teacher, Joanna Copley, share their views on why young people are turning away from science at school, and what we should be doing about it.

How best to prepare young people for an unknown future

How best to prepare young people for an unknown future

Jonathan Bramsdon, Partnership Director at The Edge Foundation, argues that the UK cannot afford to waste the talent of any young person.

Scotland's young people are determined to succeed

Scotland's young people are determined to succeed

Scotland is leading the way in developing the skills and attitudes of its young people and in preparing them for the world of work and life beyond school. Read how Determined to Succeed is working to change cultures in schools to help tomorrow's workforce

Making a Mint: Creating Young Entrepreneurs

Making a Mint: Creating Young Entrepreneurs

Last year's winners of NESTA s Making a Mint competition, Willows Primary School in Lichfield, explain what pupils gained from the experience - and the entrepreneurial spirit that has been the competition's legacy.

Encouraging innovative behaviour in young people

Encouraging innovative behaviour in young people

Professor Elizabeth Chell talks about her latest project to carry out research into innovative characteristics of young people, for NESTA.

Nurturing the serial entrepreneurs of tomorrow

Nurturing the serial entrepreneurs of tomorrow

Reshma Sohoni tells us how Seedcamp's combination of seed funding and mentoring support will forge a community of young technology entrepreneurs in Europe.

Taking a creative cut on science

Taking a creative cut on science

Planet SciCast isn't about persuading young people to take up science professionally, so much as convincing them that the tools science gives us are an extremely valuable way of looking at the world, says Jonathan Sanderson.

Tailoring education for entrepreneurial people

Tailoring education for entrepreneurial people

We seem to have contrived an education system that divorces enthusiasm from the acquisition of knowledge, says Big Ideas ICT Youth Challenge judge, Simon Roberson

Reinvigorating entrepreneurial spirit among young people

Reinvigorating entrepreneurial spirit among young people

Big Ideas ICT Youth Challenge judge, Simon Roberson, explains how the competition benefits young people and companies in the North East.

Giving young people the freedom to innovate

Giving young people the freedom to innovate

The UK's exam-orientated education system and rigid curriculum are strangling young people's freedom to innovate, says young entrepreneur and founder of Soccernet.com, Tom Hadfield.

What makes you good at what you do?

What makes you good at what you do?

Do entrepreneurs have a unique DNA profile - and if so, what characteristics does it comprise? Modwenna Rees-Mogg asks a selection of our NESTA Investments portfolio companies: What makes you good at what you do?

Igniting the bright sparks of tomorrow

Igniting the bright sparks of tomorrow

Young people need more enterprise education and opportunities to flex their creativity, according to students and teachers from Birmingham's Waseley Hills High School and London's Blackheath Bluecoat School.

How do we inspire the next generation of scientists?

How do we inspire the next generation of scientists?

How do we inspire the next generation of scientists? Do we train too many science students? Professor Steve Watson, winner of a Nature/NESTA award for science mentoring, shares his views.

Learning is a risky business

Learning is a risky business

Dr Bill Lucas, an expert on lifelong learning, argues that it is smart to make mistakes and that there are practical things we can do to support young people to be better risk-takers.

Risk aversion is the enemy of innovation

Risk aversion is the enemy of innovation

Roger Mullin, an authority on judgement and decision making, offers a personal view on why we need to develop a better understanding of risk.