Dr Joe Baker, President, FASTS
On January 7, the Government declared 1997 to be 'The Year for Youth in Science.'
In making what is largely a symbolic declaration (there was no new money for initiatives in this area!), Minister Peter McGauran said that Australia needed more scientists, technologists and engineers, and not more doctors, lawyers and accountants.
FASTS believes the most useful step the Government could take to boost youth interest in science is to improve the quantity of property qualified science and mathematics teachers, and to modernise science laboratories in schools.
The evidence of difficulties in teaching is mounting. Reports have pointed out the weaknesses - a huge projected shortfall of teachers, the dissatisfaction of the existing workforce, lower numbers entering the discipline areas.
The Preston Report by the College of Deans of Education confirms anecdotal reports of the situation in Australian schools and universities that:
Australia needs to boost the supply of good science and mathematics teachers to inspire students to enter these courses at university. All sorts of career opportunities open up to people with qualifications in science and mathematics.
The corollary is that all sorts of difficulties lie ahead for the nation which fails to educate the next generation to cope with the challenges of the future.
FASTS and the National Tertiary Education Union are organising a one day Forum to examine the question of career opportunities for young research scientists.
It will be at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday March 19, and features a nationally-televised lunch time address by Professor lan Lowe of Griffith University. The Minister for Science and Technology and his shadow counterparts have been invited to speak, along with young scientists and leading figures from industry, research and the universities.
FASTS' Secretary Dr Chris Easton, of the Research School of Chemistry at the ANU, is coordinating FASTS' submission to the Review. (ph 06-279 8201, email easton@rsc.anu.edu.au)
The advertisement calling for submissions will appear on Feb 19, and submissions have to be in by April 4. Review Secretary is lan Creagh (ph. (06) 240 7344, fax (06) 240 8854, email ian.creagh@deetya.gov.au
An indication of FASTS' approach to this Review is in an article I wrote for the Sydney Morning Herald last month: 'Scientists working in the Universities are walking a funding and budgetary tightrope. All they can see ahead are red lights and danger signs, as the Universities face up to a series of challenges.
'These include providing quality teaching for students, and adequate careers for staff in a time of declining budgets; coping with a shrinking demand for S&T courses (particularly from quality students with high tertiary entrance scores) and the uncertain effects of differential HECS; finding the funds for sophisticated equipment; and meeting the challenges of international competitiveness and industry and commerce.'
I have asked the Prime Minister to extend the life of the Factor (f) Scheme. Under this Scheme, Government incentives for companies to undertake R&D are compensated for by lowercost pharmaceuticals to the Australian public. It has led to strong growth, significant private investment in infrastructure and research, and the development of leading pharmaceutical industry in Australia.
FASTS supports Factor (f) as an example of the way Governmerit can encourage industry to undertake R&D, and believes that the Government could well consider how the concept could be extended to other scientific and technological areas.
As Robert Gottliebsen said in the Business Review Weekly recently: 'Many countries to our north would walk over hot coals to get the technology we have developed here as a result of Factor (f). I suspect many European countries would have the same view.' (December 16, p. 6)
The Factor (f) scheme is a clear example of good science combined with good business. It would be to the detriment of Australia's interests if this scheme were to be curtailed or abandoned.
Members of the Board and Executive of FASTS had a profitable half day meeting with John Stocker and Erie James from DIST on 24 January.
Much of the discussion revolved about FASTS' 'Ten Top' issues for 1997, and the Review of S&T that the Chief Scientist will carry out.
It is interesting that the Chief Scientist's terms of reference nominate FASTS (along with the academies of science) as an organisation he must consult.
Release of the 'Ten Top' issues sparked much discussion this year, particularly number five which began 'Australia has too many universities...'
Lots of people reached for the phone and email before finishing the sentence: '...to be able to offer high quality science courses in all disciplines at all institutions.'
Since then I have expanded on this sentence, to say in the SMH article that in any reorganisation of the universities, the views of academic scientists working at the coalface must be prominent:
'They alone know how to arrange their resources in the science and technology-based discipline areas. They should be the ones to identify and analyse alternative approaches to maintain student access, and standards of teaching and research in S&T.
'They are closest to the problem, they are best able to understand the resources available, and have the best appreciation of the non-financial impacts of any recommended course of action.'
There has been a lot of interest in science lately, with HECS, the shortage of teachers, cuts to funding, the Nobel Prize winner becoming 'Australian of the Year,' and editorials on science in several papers. The interest is spreading, and it is good to see 'non-scientists' recognising the impact of a society inadequate in S&T.
Member Societies can contribute to this interest by drawing matters of interest to the attention of the press. Often these ideas are contained in your newsletters.
An idea from the Statistical Society Newsletter faxed to the Age newspaper made a good page three story on the economies of buying cold petrol. This sort of coverage can lift the profile of a Society and underline the relevance of science to everyday life.
FASTS' recent coverage includes appearances on national ABC radio and Channel 7 TV; and among the headlines were:
Contact the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technology ical Societies (FASTS) at
PO Box 218, Deakin West, ACT 2600
Phone: 02-6257 2891
Fax: 02-6257 2897
Email: fasts@anu.edu.au
Web address: http://www.usyd.edu.au/fasts