Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb, is leading a review by his Office of Australia’s science education, research and development outputs set for publication in the first quarter of 2012.

The review will profile the strengths and vulnerabilities of Australia’s present science capabilities. Australia’s capacity to capture the benefits of emerging science areas and the increasing internationalisation of science will be particular focus areas.

The project will consider the physical (including engineering and technology) and life (including biomedical, agricultural and veterinary) sciences undertaken by government, university and industry sectors.

Key questions include:

1. What is the breadth and quality of Australian science?
2. What disciplines are vulnerable due to training, workforce or funding issues?
3. How reliant is each discipline on Government, Higher Education or Industry?
4. How do various disciplines compare internationally?
5. What are emerging science areas and does Australia have the necessary skills to develop them?

The aim is to ensure that Australian science has the skills needed for the future. This will ensure that Australian science can continue to drive innovation throughout the economy, deliver health and well-being outcomes for all citizens, inform defence capability, and provide the objective evidence required for sound decision-making across government, business andthe community.

For this important project the Office of the Chief Scientist is collaborating with numerous government departments and agencies as well asthe Australian Academy of Science and Universities Australia.

The Chief Scientist has alsocommissioned three reports tofurther inform hisposition when compiling the final report.

• The Status and Quality of Year 11 and 12 Science in Australian Schools by Australian Academy of Science
• STEM and Non-STEM First Year Studentsby Universities Australia
• Unhealthy Science? University Natural and Physical Sciences 2002-2009/10 by Dr Ian Dobson