Readers respond to "Promoting science"

Our article on the state of science education in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Australia struck a chord with readers. We've assembled a few responses for your perusal:

From DY
To get a better education with the funding support of both major parties, you have to argue the 'financial payoff/repayment delay offsets' arguments that might convince the Australian Taxation Office.

Take R&D, it may be an Ausindustry initiative, but it is the ATO that pulls the strings.

Similarly, the massive balance of payments blowout over the last 11 years, can only be squared away by a considerable increase in the 'internal assets' of Australia. Our mineral resources diminish every time we put another tonne of iron ore on a bulk carrier, the value of housing cannot be pushed much higher to 'balance the trading books', so what can the country do so we are not taken over ... stimulate education to build up the knowledge assets of the country. It is one of the few solutions left!

From PT
Our governments must be given the authority to spend money on science education. This means that the political "master", namely the public must give its authority for such expenditure. From what you are suggesting the public is not yet convinced that further expenditure is warranted. Those advocating greater expenditure should take a look at the strategy used by the agricultural sector. It seems to get drenched in money on a regular basis even though many of the land degradation problems have been caused by exploitative practices conducted supposedly in the name of the "community". It's an interesting twist even in this moment of our colonial history. As a tax payer I know this only too well!

From GR
Your article showed that science education is not generating much interest amongst secondary school students because of teaching method has not been changed over the years. This could reflect upon the funding and also upon lack of new curriculum. Over the years, a great deal of advancement has occurred in the scientific field. Look at the advancement made on human genome project which opened up magnitude of information on human body at molecular level. The biotechnology has provided many avenues for providing medications, vaccines and need-oriented material for human happiness. Much more specific information came about over the last decade or so on infectious diseases and generated a good understanding of human problems. To day, the world is very small and progress in tele communications has resulted into a very close-net group . Communication through email and internet are very quick and effective. Like this, there are several stimulating areas to show that scientific education is very important for young generation. Some of these points need to be included into the Curriculum. Teaching method has to be changed and upgrading is required with new books and more audio-visual methods. When you look at the science educators in Secondary schools, they don't have much funding. Some body has to provide all these material for upgrading education. The most important problem is the opportunity. There is no clear vision about the scientific carrer and is not attracting best students. Australia has produced many eminent scientists and their contribution is found to be useful to humanity at large. Over the years Science is not attracting high calibre students as they have been wisked away to more application technologies which provide comparatively better career and opportunity. Unless there is more opportunity created for science, this is to continue. to happen. So the question is not that much simple to answer . This has to be addressed at the grass-root level.

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