Science Futures is a special issue of the WISENET Journal produced with the aid of a grant from the Department of Industry, Science and Tourism, Science and Technology Awareness Program.
Researched and written by Nancy Mills, PO Box 18166, Collins Street East, Melbourne Vic 8003. Profiles Copyright 1997 Nancy Mills. Layout: Daniel Stephens, 49A Surrey Street Epping NSW 2121.
WISENET steering Committee: Julianne Crowley, Margaret Hartley, Sarah
Miller, Diana Temple, Jean Hollis Weber.
Reproduction of this material
for educational purposes is encouraged, providing
the source and author are acknowledged.
Reproduction for other purposes
requires written permission from WISENET and the author, Nancy Mills.
Profiles
Surfing Science - for more information
Comments from Jane Wright, President of the Australian Science Teachers' Association
Comments from Jane Brown, Executive Officer of the ACT Department of Education
Index to profiles of women in science
Science Futures is aimed at secondary-school students in years 8 through 10, a group who generally have not thought about what they will do when they leave high school. By introducing them to a range of interesting young people doing non-traditional science - based jobs, we hope to give them reasons to consider choosing science subjects in years 11 and 12. We have considered science in a broad sense, including the physical, social and life sciences, mathematics, computing, medicine, engineering and associated technologies.
The publication is intended to promote interest in science, technology and engineering as study choices, by showing a diversity of interesting, relevant work being done by enthusiastic young people who have studied these subjects. They illustrate to secondary students the usefulness of keeping career options open and studying science subjects.
The people profiled represent a broad spectrum of young Australians from many walks of life; some trained or are now studying at universities, others through TAFE and related systems. When selecting subjects for the profiles, we looked for people who were not too far removed in age from the students reading the profiles, people who are starting out in the workforce rather than in established careers which often require postgraduate qualifications, and people in jobs that are not normally covered in traditional career information.
We have trialled these profiles with several classes who found them readable, interesting and informative. We hope that your students will find these profiles an enjoyable and interesting addition to your teaching resources, and perhaps they will help in stemming the tide of girls away from science-based subjects in the senior school.
Teachers' kits include one copy of the magazine plus loose-leaf copies of 25 profiles, suitable for photocopying for class use.
The magazine has been produced by a small committee of WISENET members, with advice from many WISENET groups.
WISENET acknowledges a grant from the Science and Technology Awareness Unit of the Federal Department of Industry, Science and Tourism (DIST).
Consult your careers teacher for further information.
If your school has internet access, you can also get more information about science, engineering and technology from many sources.
Here are some good places to start.
Jane Wright, President of the Australian Science Teachers' Association, says of SCIENCE FUTURES
The Wisenet science careers magazine for high schools provides a glimpse of the range of interests and lifestyles of young people engaged in jobs related to science and technology. In this series of profiles the scientists describe their careers as exciting, rewarding and enjoyable. Their work is clearly dynamic and challenging and may provide opportunities for travel both within and outside Australia. Some of the young people describe their research in its social context and show how it may solve problems relevant to peopleís everyday lives.
The Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA) represents science educators who are committed to the provision of high quality science education to students throughout Australia. We believe that science and technology will play a key role in developing an ecologically sustainable future for Australia and will be critical to our future economic success. We encourage students to examine the diversity of career options in science and to study subjects at school which will enable them to pursue these choices. It is important that students make these subject and career choices based on accurate and up to date information like that presented here and do not rely on community stereotypes when making decisions about their future.This magazine clearly demonstrates that scientists enjoy investigating a broad range of real life problems and in so doing make a meaningful contribution to society. I commend it to students, teachers, careers councillors and parents; it will broaden your view of who scientists are and what they do.
Jane Brown, Executive Officer of the ACT Department of Education, and herself a science teacher, reviewed the draft profiles. Her review was enthusiastic, and she made these comments.
A range of occupations is represented. Individuals' work in fields are described in terms of the National Science Statement and profile strands, Earth and beyond, Energy and change, Life and living, Natural and processed materials, and Working scientifically.
This is helpful in our organisational context, for example where outcomes from the strand, Working Scientifically, can be found in all the job outlines. So too the work of Andrew Macdonald in the mining industry demonstrates outcomes from within the strand organiser, Biodiversity, change and continuity with the Life and Living strand as well as within the strand organisers, Using science, Conducting investigations, Evaluating findings and Acting responsibly.
Again, Natalie Camiller's work as an invertebrate palaeontologist provides examples of outcomes from the strand organiser, Biodiversity, change and continuity within the Life and living strand as well as from the Working scientifically strand.
Overall I would say that the biographies will help to make the study of science and technology relevant to the students. They will help teachers and students answer the perennial question from many kids, Why should I study science (or technology)? Hopefully, students using this resource will see that careers based on science and technology are interesting and exciting.
Magazine Copyright 1998 Wisenet Inc, GPO Box 106, CANBERRA, ACT 2601
This is a special issue of the WISENET JOURNAL produced with the aid of a grant from the Department of Industry Science and Tourism, Science and Technology Awareness Program.
Print Post approved PP 225007/00044 ISSN: 1440-0006
Profiles Copyright
1997 Nancy Mills
Researched and written by Nancy Mills, PO Box 18166,
Collins St East,
Melbourne, VIC 8003
WISENET project committee: Julianne Crowley, Margaret Hartley, Sarah Miller, Diana Temple, Jean Hollis Weber.
Photographs supplied by persons profiled or their employers; used with
permission.
Front cover and layout by Daniel Stephens. 49A Surrey St,
Epping, 2121.
Ph (02) 9868 2582.
Printed by Greg Tapp Printing, 48 Industrial Drive,
Mayfield 2304
Page last updated 18 May 2000