News & Views item - December 2006

 

 

Chief of CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences Supports Maths and Stats Review Findings and Recommendations. (December 16, 2006)

    Dr Murray Cameron, Chief of CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences. has strongly supported the findings and recommendations of the international review which finds that the future of the mathematical sciences in Australia is in jeopardy and recommends the need for urgent action in order to avert a "fatal course" for its future.


“The mathematical sciences are delivering great benefits to our society and economy,”  Dr Cameron said, “but these benefits and our work at CSIRO are limited by the declining numbers of quality mathematics graduates in Australia.

“We fully agree with the conclusions of the Review and support its call for steps to ensure more qualified maths teachers and to increase the number of students studying higher levels of mathematics.”

And Dr Cameron emphasised that in his opinion the Review’s conclusion that for Australia to be a high tech player on the world stage, its recommendations must be acted on.

CSIRO’s submission to the Review stressed the value delivered by the mathematical sciences in multidisciplinary scientific research and the need for a high quality mathematics education system to develop people for exciting maths-based careers, and while he agreed that, many of the Review findings and recommendations are about government and universities, CSIRO, and Australia as a whole, will benefit if the recommendations are implemented.

 

Dr Cameron also pointed out on ABC Radio, a shortage of maths graduates has already delayed some of its research programs.

"A lot of Australia's history in agriculture, for example, has been in our ability to use genetics to breed better animals, better plant species, a lot of that in the future is about using mathematics effectively," he said.

"Without mathematics, we will not be competitive with other countries, which are aiming to do the same things."

 

So far neither the governing federal Coalition nor the Australian Labor Party have issued any public statements regarding the Review's findings and recommendations.