Founder of SciTech Receives an MBE
Philip Rose, who founded SciTech in 1991, has been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours for more than three decades of work inspiring young people through hands-on science.
Philip Rose, who has been named in this year’s Honours List, gave the following personal statement:
“In 1990, I began to abandon my work as a computer systems analyst in favour of the far less lucrative, but far more rewarding, work of bringing the excitement of learning to young children. This was a huge step into the unknown, and without the support and encouragement of my wife Amy, this incredible journey would not have begun.
In 1991, fifty children attended the first SciTech in a small primary school. It was so well received that in 1992 we moved to the then Manchester Polytechnic, where we reached our capacity of 300 children, and so the idea of enthusiastically engaging children in science and technology was truly begun.
The success of the SciTech approach meant that in the years that followed, the summer schools not only delivered spectacular hands-on science to capacity audiences, but also led to in-school and public lectures across Europe, Canada, Vietnam and South Africa.
I have been asked whether I see this MBE as a reward for all my hard work. I do not. Since the very start, I have been feasting on the rewards of my work by engaging with, and witnessing the pleasure and progress of, the thousands of children who have received the inspiration that SciTech offers. The MBE is a recognition: a recognition not only of my vision, but of the remarkable people who have made, and continue to make, SciTech such a wonderful platform for children’s learning.
I retire happy, knowing that the SciTech vision thrives and is being carried forward by Tony and his dedicated staff.”