Parliament House
Canberra, ACT
[check against delivery]
Like the Prime Minister, I’m proud to share a stage with some our finest scientists and science teachers.
I’ve attended this event before as a science fan, and it’s great to be taking part this evening as the Science Minister.
My task is to introduce the Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year, and the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year.
The second of these is named in honour of the late Sir Malcolm McIntosh, a former Chief Executive of the CSIRO.
In fact, we have CSIRO chiefs past, present and future represented here this evening.
It is a pleasure to acknowledge Dr Geoff Garrett, who retires at the end of the year, and Dr Megan Clark, who takes over in January 2009.
There has also been a peaceful transfer of power at the Office of the Chief Scientist.
Dr Jim Peacock is already enjoying a characteristically busy retirement, and Professor Penny Sackett takes up the reins next month.
It’s pure coincidence that we have two outstanding female scientists succeeding two outstanding male scientists – but that hasn’t stopped people talking about it.
Girls outperform boys and women outperform men in most fields of learning, yet women are still under-represented at the top levels of science.
In 2007, one male student started a PhD in the natural and physical sciences for every six who finished a BSc the year before. For women, it was one for every eight and a half.
This isn’t a peculiarity of one particular cohort.
It’s a pattern that has persisted for years.
If women went on to do serious research as frequently as men do, we’d have up to 400 extra scientists a year working on the big problems facing Australia and the world.
A country our size just can’t afford to squander talent like that.
Why do so many manifestly qualified women pass up on the chance to do scientific research?
This is a question the government believes needs to be answered.
Professor Sackett has said she wants to look at how and why young people choose careers in science.
Once she has settled in, I’ll be asking her to consider also investigating the particular study and career paths taken by women.
But that’s a task for tomorrow.
Our task this evening is to recognise scientific achievement of the very highest order.
Over to you, Bernie.