Australia should be proud that 95 per cent of new Rudd Cabinet ministers have undergraduate degrees. What is troubling is that none have tertiary qualifications in the science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This does not diminish their achievement, but it does raise questions about the Government’s potential for science and technology uptake at a time when many of the key issues confronting Australia, such as climate change, have a science and technology disposition. Additionally, we face a huge education challenge, much of it about attracting students to STEM courses and careers.

This lack of ‘science in the blood’ in Cabinet does not diminish the ability of proven political campaigners in the STEM portfolios – Julia Gillard, Kim Carr, Penny Wong, Martin Ferguson, Tony Burke and Anthony Albanese – but it indicates clearly the dilemma Australia faces in getting science and technology and STEM education to the top of the national policy agenda.

The implication is that, as young Australia moves towards its eventual role in running the nation, it has no role models in the Cabinet as reference points from the science and technology stream that will undoubtedly dominate the development of solutions to these economic and social cornerstone challenges.

This is not an exclusively Australian issue, but it is one we have to take seriously, and is in stark contrast to our competitors in China, India, Germany and France. In the UK, for instance, a critical shortage of science and mathematics teachers is being made worse because the government is in the dark about the full scale of the problem, according to the Royal Society’s State of the Nation Report 2007. The report highlights shortcomings in recruitment and retention of the UK’s science and mathematics teaching workforce and concludes that there are insufficient numbers of specialist physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics teachers in schools. The report also says that the UK Government’s ability to tackle the problem is seriously undermined by its own lack of information.

“The Government talks about placing a great deal of emphasis on the importance of science and mathematics,” said Michael Reiss, director of education at the Royal Society. “However, the vision of an economy driven by innovation will never become a reality unless there are enough high-quality teachers in science and mathematics.

“This amounts to a sage warning for Australia, where similar issues in the school system are apparent, and a reminder that we do need empathy for and recognition of these key technology issues – and a preparedness to take bold action – at the most senior levels of government.

At the same time, Sir David King, retiring as the UK Government’s chief scientific adviser, has said the Government still has much to do to if it is to put current scientific knowledge at the heart of its decision-making. Reflecting on his time in office, Sir David told The Times that the UK Government could be “much better” at using scientific advice. “The Government is a vast organisation (and) there is not a good history of using current scientific knowledge in decision-making,” he said.

This was a considered comment, with obvious parallels in Australia. Our Government should recognise the risk of Australian political machine mirroring the UK performance, to our national disadvantage, given the vacuum of science qualifications in the Cabinet.

It would be interesting to hear the comments on this topic from our own Chief Scientist, Dr Jim Peacock, upon his retirement – particularly in light of the new Government’s decision to make the Chief Scientist position a full-time role.

Governments do not have the luxury of single-issue focus, but the new forces in Canberra must – for the good of the nation – take strong decisions about our future in many areas, including climate energy, water, and STEM education. These decisions should be based on good science and technology inputs. The lack of professional science and technology qualifications and skills in the Cabinet imply that a sensible Government will find and take expert advice.

ATSE has recently established forums for development of debate and public policy in key national policy issues. We believe these forums will contribute strongly to the considered uptake of science and technology solutions to Australia’s major challenges by the federal and state governments and a lead to a broader and deeper community understanding of the value of science and technology to the nation. 

Dr Trevor Evans is CEO of the Australian academy of Technological sciences and engineering (ATSE)