A national forum will be held in Canberra next week to identify policies and actions to secure future mathematical and statistical skills for Australia.
“We are bringing to this forum a range of solutions to the maths and stats skills shortage, and I believe that there is now a widespread willingness for action”, said Professor Geoff Prince, Director of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute.
In the United Kingdom, an extensive careers awareness campaign, ambitious year 12 mathematics enrolment targets, the appointment of a mathematics advisor to the Government and a range of other measures were extremely effective in increasing the number of students studying mathematics at school and at university.
Professor Celia Hoyles, former mathematics advisor to the British Government, will speak about the UK experience.
The forum comes at a time when the Australian Government has commissioned the Chief Scientist to examine methods of boosting mathematics and science enrolments following the withdrawal of HECS discounting.
Mathematical and statistical skills are in high demand across all sectors of the economy. Many students are unaware that closing the door on mathematics at school will limit their future career options, since most jobs involve some level of data interpretation and analysis.
“This is not simply about educating the next generation of elite mathematicians. It’s all about ensuring future generations can most effectively contribute to national productivity and wellbeing”, said Dr Ron Sandland, former Deputy Chief Executive of CSIRO and current Chair of the AMSI Board.
Speakers at the forum include: Chief Scientist Ian Chubb; Chris Evans (Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research); Christopher Pyne (Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training); and key representatives from education and business.
Professor Brian Schmidt, winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics, will speak at the conference dinner.
Maths for the Future: Keep Australia Competitive will be held from 7-8 February 2012, University House, ANU, Canberra.
