In a bid to help overcome the critical lack of scientists and science teachers, especially in inland Australia, Charles Sturt University (CSU) will offer lucrative targeted scholarships to encourage high-quality on-campus applicants to science-based fields.

 

According to Professor Lyn Gorman, CSU’s Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the scholarships will “help address workforce shortages in the area of science including science teaching. This is particularly relevant to our region, given that schools are having difficulties getting science teachers.”

 

The scientist shortage is not a uniquely Australian problem. In Britain over the past 20 years, the number of A-level pupils studying physics has fallen 56 per cent, and chemistry by 37 per cent.

 

The Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, recently addressed The Sydney Institute, saying, “we need to engage young people in science early. I agree entirely with those who are convinced that science and mathematics education is critical for building a strong and innovative society. I am particularly concerned by the lack of uptake of science in schools”.

 

Professor Gorman hopes the CSU science scholarships will encourage school students to study science, and provide an incentive for them to continue their science studies at a higher level.

 

“The scholarships should assist in ‘putting science on students’ radars’. Then we want successful students to stay with the sciences. We are hoping to get a keen group of high quality students at CSU who have an interest in going on to Honours or postgraduate studies.

 

“The University already has strong research in these areas, so we want to build up a quality cohort of Honours and postgraduate students and enhance links between teaching and research.”

 

Professor Gorman says the scholarships will target a range of the courses in the science area, such as CSU’s Bachelor of Science; the Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) and Bachelor of Science double degree; CSU’s Bachelor of Environmental Science degrees; and some of the medical science areas; as well as applied sciences such as Wine Science and Food Science.

 

“This is also very much in line with the objectives of CSU’s Faculty restructure given that the medical and health related sciences are now in the same Faculty as agricultural sciences.”

 

The 40 CSU-funded scholarships will offer successful students $4 000 per annum for up to four years, subject to satisfactory progress. Students themselves can determine how the money is to be spent. They will be available initially to students with a University admission score (UAI) of 80 and above.

 

CSU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Goulter said, “CSU is pleased to provide more opportunities for students to study at university, particularly in professions where there is not only a state and national shortage but also an international demand.”

 

Professor Gorman agrees. “Students in inland areas have all sorts of needs and circumstances. Because of the drought, financial support may make a huge difference to potential students from farming families, for example. It could make all the difference in what they think of as being possible. Without such assistance, they might not even contemplate tertiary education.”