Madam, - John Dunne (August 16th) advocates paying third-level students to take courses in science and engineering in order to produce the graduates necessary to run our developing knowledge-driven society.
There is no doubt that intake into third-level science and engineering courses is at a worrying level, but I would suggest that the best way to improve this situation is to convince students and parents that secure and well paid careers are available in science and technology. On the other hand, it seems to me that paying students to take certain courses sends entirely the wrong signal psychologically. Would the students not wonder - "what's wrong with this area that they feel they have to attract us in with special inducements?"?
A great opportunity to make scientific careers more attractive was missed in the last round of benchmarking.
The majority of scientists in Ireland work in our universities and the bulk of the new research money made available in recent years by the Government is targeted at this area. But the last benchmarking exercise awarded university scientists a derisory 3 per cent increase in salary - one of the lowest awards made in any sector.
This was a big mistake and has undoubtedly damaged intake into third-level science.
The public is very sensitive to these signals and greets perceived poorly paid careers with the appropriate lukewarm response.
This matter needs to be corrected in the next round of benchmarking. If not, the problem will worsen further. - Yours, etc,
WILLIAM REVILLE,
Department of Biochemistry,
University College Cork.