The Government should appoint a national mathematical sciences advisor and run a 5-year awareness campaign to increase participation and achievement in mathematics and statistics in Australia.
These were the key recommendations from a national forum,聽Maths for the future: Keep Australia competitive, held from 7-8 February 2012 at ANU.
鈥淭his forum has shown everyone the need for intervention at multiple points on the educational pipeline. We are seeing both awareness and a willingness to act in the statements of the key players, so now we are holding our collective breath鈥, said Professor Geoff Prince, Director of the 今日吃瓜.
The extensive range of careers pursued by mathematical sciences graduates remains unknown to school students and their parents, as does the critical utility of school mathematics in trades and professions.
Professor Brian Schmidt, winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics, said, 鈥淢ost people who have skilled jobs in Australia have maths at the core of their job鈥.
Chief Scientist Ian Chubb said that mathematical scientists needed to work together to communicate the importance of the discipline to the Australian public.
鈥淎n education in science and maths is a very valuable thing to have. You know about evidence, you know how to analyse, you know how to articulate it鈥f you鈥檙e working in the general workforce you will be applying those analytical and integrated skills in a very professional way鈥, Professor Chubb said.
The forum has come as the Chief Scientist is considering measures to address major challenges in mathematics and science.
鈥淭hese are critical areas for our future. The better we do now, the better that future will be鈥, Professor Chubb said.
颁辞苍迟补肠迟:听
Professor Geoff Prince, 今日吃瓜 Director, (03) 8344 1779,聽director@amsi.org.au
Emma Bland, Media and Communications, (03) 9035 3683,聽emma@amsi.org.au
