The Royal Society of NSW Forum 2013 was held at the Powerhouse Museum on Thursday 6 June before a large audience. Antony Funnell of the ABC's Radio National moderated the discussion between:
- Professor Brian Schmidt AC FRSN, Nobel Prize winner
- Professor Steven Schwartz AM, former Macquarie University Vice Chancellor
- Ms Judith Wheeldon AM, former Principal of both Queenwood School for Girls and Abbotsleigh
- Professor Merlin Crossley, Dean of Science at the University of NSW
Among other questions, our panellists discussed: will a falling focus on science and technology in education really be a problem for innovation in Australia? Is it a matter of basic education? Is it poor teaching? Is there a fundamental aversion to maths and science in Australia? Given our reliance on technology, why is there not a greater desire to utilise it and to develop it? Is there a "science literacy" problem in Australia? Why have we become passive about science and technology, rather than embracing it at its fundamental levels?
In case you missed it, it was broadcast on ABC Radio National Big Ideas on Monday 17 June (click Forum 2013 to download a recording of the broadcast).