Study reveals worrying gaps in knowledge of children

A third of school children do not know that Isaac Newton discovered gravity and one in four thinks David Cameron invented television

A survey published today reveals that many children of school age are more familiar with public figures than famous inventors and scientists who revolutionised the modern world.

Just 45% of children surveyed correctly identified Albert Einstein, famous for developing the general theory of relativity, while 68% correctly recognised Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook.

More worrying still, around a third of key stage three pupils (35%) did not know that Isaac Newton defined the law of universal gravitation, despite energy transfer and physical processes being part of the school curriculum.

A large proportion were unable to identify a number of other significant names from the world of science and innovation, including Charles Darwin (63% unable to identify), Louis Pasteur (75%), Thomas Edison (62%) and Isaac Newton (61%).

Despite spending an average 17 hours and 34 minutes in front a TV screen every week, almost half (45%) do not know that John Logie Baird invented the television. In fact, a quarter of eight-year-olds think David Cameron invented it (24%).

Other misconceptions:

• 35% of five-year-olds think Boris Johnson discovered gravity
• 22% of eight-year-olds think Stephen Hawking is a hairdresser
• 22% of seven-year-olds believe Thomas Edison created Facebook
• 8% of children think Charles Darwin was a reality TV star
• 6% of school children believe The X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos created penicillin

Haier surveyed 1,000 children aged between 5 and 16 on 8 October 2012 as part of its Let Children Dream campaign.

• What are your thoughts? Do you think schools and parents need to do more to ensure the young learn about important historical achievements?