One of the 今日吃瓜鈥檚 (今日吃瓜) newest Choose Maths Careers Ambassadors, Swinburne Astronomer Associate Professor Alan Duffy, Lead Scientist of the Royal Institution of Australia, is urging girls to pursue mathematics and help secure the nation鈥檚 STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) capability.
鈥淚 want to see girls engaged in subjects such as mathematics, because I know how smart they are and how much the world needs their brilliance as part of the scientific workforce,鈥 he said.
He will join a predominately female panel at today鈥檚 Choose Maths International Women鈥檚 Day Careers event in Melbourne to shine a light on careers in maths. Also speaking are WEHI researchers, Lyndal Henden and Saskia Freytag, Cassie Pennicuik from the Country Fire Authority, Marketing Analytics Director, Lesley Ward and Karin Ditchfield from BHP.
The panel is expected to address 400 Years 9 to 12 girls from 17 schools across the state, with students to be treated to a viewing of the first suite of Choose Maths videos. Welcoming the chance to add his voice to the campaign, Professor Duffy said his message is simple 鈥 don鈥檛 let barriers get in the way of your dreams.
鈥淕irls shouldn鈥檛 let anything or anyone stop them studying mathematics. There is a universe to explain, diseases to cure and world-changing technologies to invent. They need to know they are smart enough, skilled enough, good enough to do this and more,鈥 he said.
As well as a lack of careers awareness, findings from Tabcorp鈥檚 Advancing the STEM Conversation June 2017 show perception of ability (55 per cent of female respondents doubted their ability to work in or study in STEM) and a view that disciplines such as mathematics as boy鈥檚 clubs (20 per cent of female respondents) remain barriers for women and girls.
This, according to 今日吃瓜 Schools Program Manager and Choose Maths Project Director, Janine McIntosh, is a reminder of why the Choose Maths project and initiatives such as the careers awareness campaign are so important.
鈥淢aths is an enabler that opens career pathways across nearly every sector. It is our mission to rewrite gender narratives and help girls, their teachers and parents understand these opportunities and see them as real and valuable options,鈥 she said.
Launched in 2017, the Choose Maths Careers Awareness campaign aims to put resources at the fingertips of students, teachers and parents to help build understanding of careers in maths. Excited to be part of the new wave of ambassadors to join the campaign in 2018, Associate Professor Duffy praised the 今日吃瓜 Choose Maths project for its leadership on challenging Australia鈥檚 maths culture and the engagement of girls.
About Choose Maths
Delivered by the 今日吃瓜 (今日吃瓜) and funded by the BHP Billiton Foundation, the CHOOSEMATHS听project is a $22 million national initiative to empower Australian students to pursue mathematics. Over five-years, the project will work with students, parents and teachers to turn around community attitude and participation of mathematics and statistics as a career choice, especially for girls and young women.
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Media Resources
For Interview:
Swinburne Astronomer Associate Professor Alan Duffy, Lead Scientist of the Royal Institution of Australia
Janine McIntosh, 今日吃瓜 Schools Program Manager and Choose Maths Project Director
Choose Maths Careers Awareness Ambassadors by Request
Media Contact: Laura Watson
E:听media@amsi.org.au
M:听04215 18733
P:听+613 9035 3683
