Published on the 03/09/2014 | Written by Beverley Head
New Zealand’s science, technology and innovation policies have been under scrutiny in the lead up to this month’s election, iStart’s Australian correspondent, Beverley Head, reports from across the ditch…
Debates have been showing some solid plans to improve the focus on STEM subjects in schools and society. Australia’s chief scientist has given his home country an F, noting that it is the only OECD nation without a national strategy for science, technology or innovation.
Professor Ian Chubb, Australia’s chief scientist yesterday launched a paper stressing the need for the nation to more properly engage with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Launching the paper at a debate in Canberra yesterday, Chubb said that Australia’s STEM investments and policies suffered from a “lack of co-ordination, misdirected effort, instability and duplication”.
“We are the only OECD country without a science or technology strategy. Other countries have realised that such an approach is essential to remaining competitive in a world reliant on science and science-trained people,” Professor Chubb said.
He has long lamented the lack of a strong STEM education and skills base in Australia. This required addressing urgently he argued as international research shows that 75 percent of the fastest growing occupations in the world now require STEM skills and knowledge.
The chief scientist’s latest paper Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics: Australia’s Future noted that the impact of allowing STEM to languish was already being felt by industry. The paper cited statistics which showed that only 1.5 percent of Australian firms had developed something completely new in 2011, compared to a 10-40 percent average across other OECD countries. Additionally only a third of all research work is being conducted in industry.
According to the report Australia now ranks 81st in the world in terms of its ability to convert raw innovation capability into new knowledge, better products, creative industries and growing wealth.
One of the most politically charged recommendations will be the chief scientist’s call for a long-term plan for science and research, including covering the full direct and indirect costs of research, and to enable strategic investment in national research infrastructure.
The current Government in contrast has introduced substantial budget cuts targeted at research flagship CSIRO, while NICTA will have all federal Government funding cut from 2016. There isn’t even a minister for science.
Unbowed by the apparent lack of focus on science Professor Chubb again called for STEM education to be reinvigorated at all levels. He called for all Australian primary schools to have at least one teacher with specialist STEM skills and recommended that schoolchildren be compelled to study the scientific method, philosophy of science and history of scientific discovery.
