| Issue 62 (WAIS 2) Contents
|
Opening Address
by
th Honourable Peter McGauran, MP, Federal Minister for Science
Dr Allport, Professor Hesketh, Professor Raper and Distinguished guests,
I am delighted to be here to give the opening address at the second “Women Achieving in Science” conference.
One of the privileges of being Science Minister, is the opportunity to meet with scientists and researchers across Australia, to visit their labs, and to discuss their research. In doing so, I have met numerous women that are achieving extraordinary things in science, many of whom are internationally acclaimed and are inspirational role models for young women scientists.
I also have the opportunity to work with a number of women at the frontline of Australia’s national science policy.
Vikki Sara, as the former chair of the ARC, was the driving force behind the council’s far reaching reforms. And since her appointment as CEO, Vikki has been instrumental in ensuring the implementation of the Government’s innovation action plan, Backing Australia’s Ability.
Suzanne Cory, new CSIRO Board member has also had a remarkable career. She trained as a molecular biologist and is currently director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. In Melbourne last year, Suzanne became the first Australian to win the prestigious UNESCO Women in Science award, and was recently elected to the French Academy of Science as an Associate Foreign Member, the first Australian woman to be so honoured.
Dr Annabelle Duncan, who was appointed Chief of the Division of Molecular Science, at CSIRO in 1999. Anabelle also acts as an adviser to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on biological weapons control, and in this capacity represents Australia at international arms control meetings. She has also acted as a biological weapons inspector with the United Nations in Iraq, a unique experience, to say the least.
And Joanne Daly, who currently heads the national research priorities task force within my department. Joanne has recently accepted a very significant promotion within CSIRO to be Chief of the Entomology Division, from February next year. Joanne is deeply committed to the priority setting exercise, and will continue to head the taskforce until the end of the year.
The National Research Priorities Expert Advisory Committee, and consultative panel, also had a number of outstanding science women –– Michelle Simmons (Quantum computing), Sue O’Reilly (Earth sciences), and Melissa Little (Medicine).
And it is perhaps appropriate that tomorrow’s plenary will be in memory of Malcolm McIntosh, as this year Professor Marcela Bilek won the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year. This is one of the most prestigious science prizes awarded by the Federal Government. Since being made the Professor of Physics at the University of Sydney at the age of 32, Professor Bilek’s work has led to three new patents in the materials science field, in just the past two years.
The newly instituted Prime Minister’s Prizes for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary and Secondary schools were won by two women in this the inaugural year:
Marianne Nicholas and Ruth Dircks. A significant acknowledgement to the role women play in science education. And there are so many other women scientists I could add to this roll-call. Yet beneath this top layer of inspirational women, who have made an incredible contribution both to science in Australia, and Australia’s reputation in the international arena, there are still not enough women scientists in Australia.
Here are a few observations.
However incorrectly or out-of-date, there persists an image of science as the territory of bearded and bespectacled men; also science has been seen as a bit ‘blokey’ in culture. This is changing - and many men welcome the change as much as women. New views about how to lead and manage teams are permeating organisations, making them more female friendly. So in many ways, women who need a job with human interaction and people management, as well as some hard core scientific thinking, have many opportunities in science to combine these. Yet women are disproportionately disappearing up the ladder, as Dr Sandra Eady noted in her 1999 CSIRO report on gender equity.
Women in science face many of the same issues that are faced by women in the broader workforce:
• the glass ceiling,
• discrimination in the workplace and
• balancing work and family.
The latter as you know has become a key issue for the Howard Government in this third term of office. The Government aims to achieve equity of opportunity across the workplace; and wants to expand the population’s skills base.
We are aiming to break down the barriers that hinder women’s opportunities and choices about how they live their lives. The challenge for government is to provide the right level of support, so that women from all backgrounds are able to pursue a particular career path. There are some positive statistics around.
Access by women to a university education has shown a marked increase over the past 50 years. In 1949 the percentage of female enrolments was 21.4 per cent, which has increased to 56.4 per cent in 2001 of all students commencing undergraduate degrees at university.
However, women continue to be under-represented among students commencing Engineering bachelor degrees - 12.6% of students commenced an engineering degree in 1991 and 14.6 % in 2000.
In Science courses, women are much more in evidence. They accounted for 42.6 % of students commencing bachelor degrees in 1991 and 43.2 per cent in 2000, and women now account for about one third of science PhD graduates.
It’s good to see that employment prospects for university graduates are strong... Of all bachelor degree graduates who were available for full time employment in 2001, 83% were in full-time employment within four months of completing their degrees.
Government initiatives are making a very real difference in helping women to update their skills and fully utilise their talents. It is crucial that we encourage new generations of women to seek careers in science and technology, to bring their skills and creativity to the development of Australia. In particular, the Government is committed to supporting women to gain professional skills and encourage more women to move into science, engineering and technology careers.
For example, the postgraduate education loans scheme, will provide further opportunities for women and others undertaking higher degrees by coursework. Funds have also been allocated to improve the access to undergraduate nursing education for rural and regional students. The government is seeking to increase the participation of women in leadership positions, and I note Senator Amanda Vanstone recently announced the second “Australian Women Speak” conference will be held in Canberra in 2003. This national conference is designed to provide policy-makers with access to the diverse views of Australian women.
The $35 million national innovation awareness strategy (part of BAA) is encouraging the participation of women, not only in science and technology, but also in innovation and entrepreneurship. NIAS grants seek to encourage young people to look closely at science, technology and engineering fields of endeavour, as rewarding career paths.
Another example, Science in the Bush 2002, involved a series of talks and debates featuring eminent women scientists as guest speakers, in regional centres and remote towns across Australia. These talks were co-hosted by a local ABC celebrity and broad-cast on ABC local radio. I understand that Robyn Stutchbury, who assisted in the running of “Science in the Bush”, is a work-shop panellist at this conference Robyn would be able to elaborate on the successful format of this project for those who are interested.
In 2001, the NIAS scheme assisted six science and technology awareness raising projects put forward by Women in Science, with grants totalling $412,000 - which equates to 36% of the total amount of funds provided to 18 projects. Whilst these are small, they are important steps.
More of course needs to be done. One of the consistent messages I receive from women scientists, is that young female scientists need effective role models and mentors, and I know your inaugural conference last year was very much about establishing a network of mentors. It’s vital that established women in science seek out forums and events where they can inspire younger women to enter the field of science - such as this forum, beginning today.
Over the next two days you will be looking at the important areas of:
• Equality: harassment and discrimination; fostering supportive environments; professional recognition,
• Future science: starting in schools; young women and careers; family and career, and
• Revaluing women: new ways of working; competition and funding and public recognition.
Australia’s future will be strongly influenced by new ideas and applications, and scientists will be at the forefront of these initiatives. The role and input of scientists and researchers, in providing advice to the Commonwealth Government has never been stronger. Australia’s social, economic and environmental problems, require the sound advice of our scientific community. This is happening at a number of forums, including the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering, and Innovation Council, and the Sustainable Environment Committee of Cabinet, both chaired by the Prime Minister, whose personal support for science is enduring. It is an exciting time for science in Australia; it should also be an exciting time for women in science.
It is imperative that we build on this groundswell of support in the wider government, and the wider community to encourage new generations of women to seek careers in science and technology.
In closing, I should mention that your conference convenor, Dr Pauline Gallagher, never misses an opportunity to remind me of the issues and challenges faced by women in fulfilling their scientific potential. And while I trust this will continue, I hope that following this conference, Pauline is able to brief me on the outcomes and recommendations of the conference, to feed into future policy directions, to encourage the greater participation of women in science and technology.
Thank you to the organisers:
• CSIRO Staff Association
• National Tertiary Education Union;
• Women in Science Enquiry Network; and
• Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies.
I wish you a very successful conference and look forward to hearing of the outcomes.
The Honourable Peter McGauran became the Commonwealth Government’s Minister for Science following the 2001 federal election. He has been a member of Federal Parliament since March 1983, representing the seat of Gippsland (Victoria). Having served as Shadow Minister for Science and Technology and Shadow Minister for Resources and Energy while in opposition, Mr McGauran was first appointed the Minister for Science and Technology in 1996. In 1998, he took over as Minister for the Arts and in 2001 returned to the Science portfolio.