Tuesday, 21 October 2008

The Graduate School of Education wishes to congratulate Professor Grady Venville (UWA), Dr Nancy Longnecker (UWA) and Professor Léonie Rennie (Curtin) on winning an ARC Linkage Grant for 2009.

Beyond the Beaker: Maximising the Impact of a Science Careers Program on High School Students’ Attitudes towards Science

Australia’s international competitiveness is increasingly dependent on high-level, science-based technical skills, knowledge and innovation. As a consequence, the falling numbers of young people choosing to pursue the study of science has become a matter of national debate and societal concern. The aim of this research is to generate knowledge about how secondary school students’ attitudes towards science are formed and how these attitudes can be positively influenced. The research will be conducted in the context of Beyond the Beaker, a program introduced in 2007 and specifically designed by Scitech to inspire secondary school students (Years 8-10) to pursue science-based careers.

The project partners are Scitech and Chevron. Scitech is a world-class interactive science centre in Perth with the mission to increase awareness, interest and participation by all Western Australians in science and technology. Chevron is a global petroleum and gas exploration, production and marketing organisation with its Australasian headquarters in Perth. Chevron is committed to invest in partnerships supporting social, environment, community and economic programs that can contribute to the future sustainable development of WA.

The research will be conducted in 18 schools in Perth and regional and rural WA. The research will inform the national impetus required from government, business and education sectors to take action by providing research-informed models about how to positively influence students’ attitudes to science and science subject selection. These models will provide critical information about how to secure the next generation of scientists in Australia and a science skilled and knowledgeable workforce and general population.

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