SoIT's News Issue 2 2009

Science meets Parliament

“Science meets Parliament” (SmP) brings up to 200 scientists from all over the country for face-to-face meetings and forums with Parliamentarians in Canberra. For an entire day, Federal Parliament lives and breathes science in a series of meetings and events which also allow the scientists unparalleled opportunities to witness national decision making at first hand, and to inform this process on important scientific issues.

Dr. James Curran from the School of Information Technologies was one of two representatives of the Computer Research and Education (CORE) group, the association of university departments of computer science in Australia and New Zealand. James had the chance to discuss computer science education and education/research more generally with Ms. Julie Owens (Labour Member for Parramatta) and the Hon. Eric Abetz (Liberal Senator for Tasmania and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate).

The aims of SmP are: to stimulate and inform Parliament’s discussion of scientific issues that underpin the economic, social and environmental well-being of the nation, and enhance the understanding of science through the wider community; to establish linkages between scientists, politicians and policy makers; to provide scientists with a broad outlook for opportunities that may require the input of scientific knowledge into policy making.

James’ main points of discussion related to reforming the computer science curriculum in schools and getting school students engaged with computer science and science more generally:

1. Develop and resource a national curriculum in science and computing;
2. Get students engaged with scientists at national facilities;
3. Support gifted and talented programs and activities run by volunteers. Fund-raising for these kind of programs is time consuming. Federal support would expand them beyond the limited time made available by volunteers.