Welcome to National Science and Engineering Week 2008!

Each year, since 1994, this nationwide celebration (formerly known as National Science Week) has seen a week to ten days in March devoted to highlighting British achievements in the sciences, technology and engineering, as well as engaging the largest possible number of people in that celebration.

In 2007, nearly 800,000 people took part in around 3,000 events across the UK. I am hopeful that this year's celebration, which runs from 7 to 16 March, will be on a similarly impressive scale.

Find out more about what is happening, including events happening in your area.

The case for a national celebration of science continues to be relevant, as it was back in 1994. There is a need not only to ensure the flow of young people into careers in the sciences and engineering, but also to debate and wonder at the achievements of science as part of our culture. This aspect is particularly relevant in 2008 as the European Capital of Culture is Liverpool.

Another reason for the importance of the Week is to engage more people with the processes of science - so that they can understand and make judgements on the science that appears in the media, taking into account the risks and benefits that are presented.

This year's theme is 'A Question of Science'. By considering the questions that concern us, and how scientists address those questions, we hope to focus attention on how science is done and what we can expect of scientists in the near future. Climate change, energy provision, food production and consumption can then be debated in a meaningful way, which will be good both for science and our democracy.

I am looking forward to taking part in many National Science and Engineering Week events for the first time as Minister for Science and Innovation. I sincerely hope that you will join me in doing so.

Ian Pearson