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Australian high school students are choosing not to study science and the Graduate School of Education's Colin Hanbury is trying to find out why.

"Since I finished high school the participation of Australian Year 12 students in science has steadily dropped," Assistant Professor Hanbury said.

The Graduate School of Education, the Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences and the Science Communication Program are conducting an international on-line survey - Why did you choose to study science? It will compare influences on people's choices to enter science and also compare responses across cultures.

Students opting out of science is becoming common across all developed countries.

"Technological innovation has contributed 50 per cent of the USA's economic growth since World War II but even they have concerns about their future ability in sciences," Dr Hanbury said. "Considering that science and applied science underpins our collective economic wellbeing and improvement of living standards, how are we going to fare in the future?

"The decreasing interest in science has led to a decline in the availability of science, engineering and technology graduates to fill projected jobs."

In a study of 15-year-olds from 34 countries, 15 to 25 per cent of students in developed countries said they would like to become scientists, compared with up to 80 per cent in under-developed countries.

"Factors that influence students to go into science include personal aspirations, family influence and school experiences," Dr Hanbury said. "In developed countries, lack of job security and low pay rates have eroded the attractiveness of a career in science. These factors may be having a feedback effect on the younger generation now making career choices.

"I encourage anyone qualified in science, applied science or mathematics to participate in our survey and to encourage colleagues here and overseas to participate.

"The survey will close soon. We have so far had a good response that includes countries from smallest to largest, and poorest to wealthiest. There is of course a significant emphasis on Australia. However, the more participants there are, the better will be the results - so get on-line to https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/409857/Science .

"It should take less than 15 minutes and you can rejoice in your contribution to a good cause."

If you would like to know more, please contact Dr Colin Hanbury at [email protected] (6488 2508), or Associate Professor Nancy Longnecker at nancy.longnecker@ uwa.edu.au (6488 3926). The results will be published later this year and available at https://www.communicatingscience.org/

Published in UWA News , 21 March 2011