Promoting science

You can't just wake up one morning and decide to go for that job as a scientist. You need some qualifications.

OK, that's easy, just about every university offers a variety of science-related courses. Ahhh - but most of these courses require a minimum of high school mathematics and many recommend that you have completed at least one high school science subject.

What would have inspired you to study science in senior school?

Playing with a Bunsen burner in your first giddy weeks at high school was pretty exciting but after that the appeal of the school science laboratory is as limited as the equipment and experiments offered.

The Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training has developed a Scientists in Schools program which aims to increase interest in science among school children. Funded by the Quality Outcomes Programme, Scientists in Schools is designed to promote science education in primary and secondary schools.

The program allows scientists to work with schools and provide inspiration for students and teachers. Not only do schools benefit from having access to a scientist, but the scientists themselves receive a fresh perspective from their contact with the classroom environment.

The program is open to research scientists and engineers as well as people involved in applied sciences, such as doctors, vets, park rangers and so on.

The most beneficial partnerships (for all involved) are those that are longer-term rather than one-off but let's face it, any involvement that enhances the profile of science as a career has to be worthwhile. So if you can spare regular time each month or so or even just once in a while when you can inspire some local school students to pursue science, maybe you should consider joining the program. You can liaise with a local school or even have students visit your facility.

The Scientists in Schools program will provide support materials to all scientists who are partnered with a school through the program. This support material will include:

• Information and tips about working with schools, teachers and students
• Ideas for establishing and maintaining a partnership with a school
• Teaching and learning materials that can be used with students

There is no payment for scientists from the program but if you can inspire some new talent into the scientific arena the whole industry will benefit.

It seems to me that if scientists want to be recognised (and remunerated) for their efforts they need to foster a culture of scientific appreciation in the wider community - and this program could be a starting point.

While I am bemoaning science education in Australia, I should extend my lamentations into the tertiary sector. I have just had a child finish first year chemistry and her lab program seems to have altered very little since I was an undergraduate at the same institution. In a year of chemistry pracs, the only equipment that has been used is a centrifuge and a pH meter. This is pretty archaic experimentation.

OK, I know the limitations of providing meaningful experiment facilities to hoards of first-year students and meeting all the OHS requirements and the lack of funds... but surely as a country Australia can do better.

There are federal elections this month, so why don't we all ask our local representatives what are their policies and how are they going to support the scientific sector?