Update: New forum scheduled for January 2012!
24th January 2012, 6:30pm
Arts Lecture Room 6 (ARTS: [ G.62 ])
University of Western Australia
Crawley, WA
The Australian Democrats are forming our new policy on science and technology, and we need your input! Join us for a forum on science in politics, and help us answer the big questions facing Australia today:
- What problems do scientists face in Australia?
- How can we improve our funding systems for public research?
- Is public policy informed enough by science?
- Should Australians know more about science and technology?
- Can we foster more innovative business?
The forum will be run by Jason Heeris (BSc Hons, BEng Hons UWA), the WA President of the Australian Democrats and the National Policy Coordinator for Science and Technology. He has worked in government research, private industry and science communication, and would like to see science play a greater role in Australian politics and business.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about these forums or our policies!
You can read more about the motivation for forming a new science policy, but in short, we believe that action needs to be taken to remedy the growing disconnect between science and politics in Australia.
We will look at public funding of research, the problems with our current system and how it can be changed for the better.
But our policy is not limited to issues of government funding of research and academia! We also want to hear from entrepreneurs who have stories to tell about commercialisation of technology, and policy makers who can offer insight into the role of the government in supporting innovative business. We want to better understand the challenges faced by educators and students at all levels of our education system. We want to know why so many scientists refuse to get involved in politics altogether, and how to turn that around.
The details of the first forum are:
24th January 2011, 6:30pm
Arts Lecture Room 6 (ARTS: [ G.62 ])
University of Western Australia
Crawley, WA
There needs to be more support and particularly SECURITY for early-career and mid-career researchers. There should also be support for creative but risky ideas.
Uncertainty in employment is a huge problem for scientists. When asked for career advice I am honest and advise students that they will probably be subject to long family unfriendly hours (without monetary compensation) and poor career structure, and the very real possibility of becoming unemployed in middle age. I find their parents have done their research anyway and are already wise to this.
Basic and risky science is not adequately supported by government. The biggest discoveries are often made by chance, particularly as a by-product of basic research. They are not planned as “aims” and “outcomes”. Research funding bodies generally play it safe, so the grants go to the established scientists with big names (often a measure of their ability to self-promote) and safe projects.
Often it is the small philanthropic organisations who put up the money for this type of project (because governments won’t fund them, they say). But this is the very type of project that will potentially have the best payoff. These grants are usually quite small, and not suitable for scientists needing funding for their salary.
The general public would probably give more towards medical research if they understood how it is funded, and realised that there is a huge need in this area that is not adequately met by government. Although government should meet its obligations I also believe philanthropy is part of a healthy society.
Thanks for the comment Ruth (and sorry for the delay in my reply, I bungled my notifications setup).
I agree that job security in science is a huge problem, and one that’s affected me personally (although not in medical research). It’s not just whether or not someone’s job is safe, either, it’s whether they’ll be able to find another one should they lose the one they have.
I remember last year the ABC reported on CSIRO’s media release calling for more students to study agricultural science, since they’d be needed. The comments featured actual agricultural scientists telling them not to do it, because there was no job security!
I don’t think that problem can be solved without both overhauling the culture of research funding bodies and supporting businesses that utilise the results of that same research.
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