Profile written by Vivienne Skinner
WISENET Journal No. 11, June 1987, p. 14
Caroline Gill's job is to sell science. As the newly appointed Science Faculty Liaison Officer, she hopes to tell as many people as possible that science is fun, worthwhile and fundamentally important to today's world. Although based at ANU, she plans to spend much of the year in schools throughout the Canberra district encouraging students to consider science as a career option.
Ms Gill is amply qualified for her new job. She began a science degree at Melbourne University in the early 60's, and after a break, completed it with first class honours in botany at ANU in 1969. Since then she's tutored and lectured in mathematics, statistics, and science and in 1983 began teaching with the ACT Schools Authority. She's currently completing her doctoral thesis on the subject: 'Twins and Academic Achievement'.
Last year, ANU's Dean of Science, Professor Chris Bryant told the Reporter of his concern about declining enrolments in science at Australian universities and said he would like to 'hire a young and vibrant woman scientist to try and push the field of science to high school students'. He was particularly concerned that few girls were pursuing science to postgraduate level. Caroline Gill's appointment is the result of Professor Bryant's determination to make science more attractive, particularly to young girls.
'Girls and boys are getting a different education', says Ms Gill. 'Boys are more demanding of teacher's time and the general attitude that science and maths are boys' subjects still clearly exists. As a result, girls are less confident about taking up science and maths and are often left behind. The way employment is now structured, by not doing science and math, girls are consigning themselves to service industry jobs which usually pay poorly and have little chance for career advancement. I want to help break that cycle. It's a huge problem, but I would like to see myself as a co-ordinator of information about just what's available in the area of science throughout the Canberra district.'
One of her early plans is to set up a scientist-in-residence scheme in as many Canberra high schools as possible. She believes there are many scientists working at ANU and CSIRO who would be willing to spend time at their district high school making themselves available to students and teachers interested in science. As well, the University will join the CSIRO's 'peer teaching' scheme whereby students come into laboratories and workshops and carry out some research with assistance and advice from the scientists working in the area.
However, Ms Gill expects to spend most of her time visiting schools and talking to students and teachers about the value of studying science. 'I don't expect to turn every student into a hard-hatted engineer or a white-coated scientist. However, I want to tell them that science is an option for everyone, and it is imperative that we all work towards having a scientifically literate population.'
Reprinted from the ANU Reporter by permission of University Information.