The new Director of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (RSAA) believes that encouraging people to look to the stars could help reverse the global decline in scientists.
Professor Penny D. Sackett said schools and universities could attract more people into the sciences by capitalising on people's natural love and curiosity of the heavens. "Astronomy is inherently exciting to people and can lead into the other sciences, whether it be physics, chemistry or even biology," she said.
Prof. Sackett said it was crucial to interest and recruit students now because it is estimated that there will be nobody left in several fields of science within 10"“20 years. "A lack of scientists in society has impact on industry and research through to government and law. Scientists play an important role in providing information to make sound decisions. They also enrich society through cultural contributions to popular writing and museums."
Prof. Sackett said that she was looking forward to taking on the challenges of maintaining and increasing Australia's access to the best instruments in the world. She said Australia had fallen behind in the past, however with more recent funding it had gained access to a range of modern optical, radio and infrared telescopes around the world.
"Astronomy is very international and gaining access to telescopes in the best location can be more important than having telescopes in the country."
Item provided courtesy of Monash University
