The QRC is pressuring the education sector to concentrate on earth sciences in the classroom off the back of a report indicating there?s approximately 2000 job vacancies for geologists and geophysicists across the country.
?A big lift in the study of earth science is going to be essential to ensure an increasing supply of geoscience professionals to support the huge growth prospects of the Australian resources sector,? said QRC chief executive Michael Roche. ?We must get it right in the classrooms now in order to equip the next generation of young people with the right skills and education across key areas of science, such as earth science, as well as mathematics and technology, to prepare them for the career opportunities presented by our resources sector.?
Roche criticised the final version of the new national curriculum, which he claims has missed the opportunity to showcase technologies in the resources sector, geophysical exploration and geosequestration.
The QRC has developed a program with the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy, through which 34 Queensland schools access a science, technology, engineering and mathematics teacher professional development program. The organisation hopes to have involved over 500 teachers by June next year.
Source: Queensland Research Council