Limited Career Choices Risk Further Brain Drain of Young Scientists
November 13 2002
The NTEU believes the annual Science Meets Parliament Day taking place in Canberra on Wednesday is an opportunity for our political leaders to discuss improving financial and professional support structures and career paths for our young scientists and prevent the risk of further brain drain from Australia.
“The Government has spent money bringing back researchers from overseas, yet we need to tackle the brain drain at its source by improving our education system and building better career paths for science based professions,” said Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President.
“Young scientists, many of them postgraduates, are often teaching as well as researching, many at the same time as beginning a family or a business. They need support and incentives not just to study and work in science and technology related fields, but to do so in Australia.”
Ms Rachael Prince, a 26 year-old Melbourne-based scientist working on a PhD on improving the quality of our drinking water, and one of two scientists sponsored by the NTEU to attend Science Meets Parliament, illustrates this problem.
As part of her PhD studies, Ms Prince is working with a Melbourne water company examining the water system serving a Melbourne suburb of 20,000 people for the incidences of discoloured or ‘dirty’ water and why it occurs.
“The majority of customer complaints received by water companies across Australia are for discoloured water, making the issue a vital one,” said Ms Prince. “My research is in an important area, but, even with recent increases in post doctoral positions, after my PhD it is going to be a real struggle to find work in Australia in my chosen field whereas overseas there are plenty of opportunities.”
“Situations like this are not are not uncommon and show that Australia is not making the most of our young scientists,” said Dr Allport.
“Science is the foundation of the modern economy and in our country most basic scientific research is carried out in universities. If Australia is to nurture and value its young scientists now is the critical time to reverse the decline in public funding to our tertiary education system.”
“Greater incentives are also needed to reverse the low level of private sector investment in research and development.”
Rachael Prince is one of five young scientists taking part in a press conference in Parliament House Room 2R1, at 10am on Wednesday, November 13, as as part of Science Meets Parliament.
NTEU President Carolyn Allport is also attending Science Meets Parliament and is available for comment on 0419 349 064