CSIRO is training young mathematicians and statisticians through the Graduate Fellows Program. (David Kirby)

CSIRO tackling Australia's maths crisis

Reference: 10/24

CSIRO is tackling the critical shortfall in students studying maths in Australia highlighted earlier this week by the Group of Eight Universities (Go8) in a report entitled: Review of Education in Mathematics, Data Science and Quantitative Disciplines.

• 11 March 2010

The Go8 found that the state of the mathematical and quantitative sciences in Australia has “deteriorated to a dangerous level, and continues to deteriorate”.

According to a contributor to the Go8’s review, Chief of CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics Dr Louise Ryan, the findings are sobering.

“CSIRO is doing what it can to improve the situation, from inspiring interest in maths among school students to encouraging Australia’s next generation of mathematicians and statisticians,” Dr Ryan said.

“Quality maths graduates are crucial to CSIRO research. Our mathematicians and statisticians are the foundation for our science, delivering results for mining and manufacturing, health, human services and the environment.

“For Australia to be at the forefront of science and business, we need to do more to increase the nation’s output of talented young people in the mathematical sciences.”

She said CSIRO has for a long time experienced a lack of talented maths graduates to fill positions left open by retiring staff, let alone a predicted 3.5 per cent annual growth in demand.

“Few maths and statistics graduates pursue a research career, leaving employers like CSIRO, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Go8 universities with a smaller pool of local talent to draw upon.

“We're co-operating with other major employers such as the ABS to find ways to address these shortages,” Dr Ryan said.

A promising initiative is a new Graduate Fellows program which was developed by CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics. This program will give Honours graduates in maths and statistics a chance to test-drive a research career in CSIRO before deciding whether to go into the workforce or study for a PhD. The first of the new Fellows will start later this month.

“We're delighted with the response. We had so many outstanding candidates we decided to offer eight positions instead of the four initially planned so, there is a real demand for this kind of program,” Dr Ryan said.

New programs from CSIRO Education are also addressing several of the report's recommendations in maths education at primary and secondary schools, and maths teaching.

One of these is Maths by Email – a partnership with the Australian Mathematical Science Institute (AMSI), to produce a free, fortnightly email newsletter aimed at school students, parents and teachers with hands-on activities and articles showing the intriguing ways maths can solve problems. There are already over 800 subscribers and the first issue is planned to go out soon.

Another program is CSIRO’s successful Mathematicians in Schools program, of which Dr Ryan is patron. This program matches working mathematicians with schools which they visit to talk about the work they do or help teachers develop practical lesson plans. There are currently 72 partnerships and that number is growing.

“It’s really important we maintain student interest through secondary school, providing students and teachers with resources to help them understand the role of maths in today’s world,” Dr Ryan said.

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