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GUEST SPEAKER

Crucial Importance of

Science Education

“The education of scientists and technologists and the
shortage of people skilled in the fields of science and
engineering have been popular topics of discussion through
out the English speaking world, particularly during the last
ten years. Concern in an atmosphere of near panic was
expressed at Russia’s annual figure of 336 technologists in
training per million in 1956, compared with U.S.A. 281 and
Great Britain 172. In actual numbers, Russia is producing
more scientists than U.S.A, and Great Britain together,”
stated Professor La hey at our 1958 Speech Night.
The spot-light of public attention, he added, is also on the crucial
importance of science education for our own young people of Junior and
Senior age. This is a highly competitive era—the age of atomic energy,
guided missiles, sputniks, space rockets, television, wonder drugs, plastics.
For the first time in history the strength of a nation is calculated by its
number of H bombs. Today any industry that does not adapt itself to
scientific innovations will surely bankrupt itself. In Australia, at present
we are more dependent on our great natural resources, but continuous
scientific research is necessary to keep our primary products on a competitive
world market.
To prosper and maintain our high standard of living and to enjoy
the fruits of scientific advances, we must keep abreast of science development.

Mr. Menzies was quoted: “We must develop in Australia, not only
great machinery and technical equipment but at all times we must produce
more and more people highly trained scientifically for this purpose.” As a
result of the Murray report the Commonwealth Government will spend £22
million on tertiary education in the next three years and this support leans
towards the science and technology side.
One hundred post-graduate research scholarships (R for Queensland)
were made available to honours students. Professor Lahey then spoke of the
training of a scientist. The problem is how to deal with the ever increasing
amount of factual knowledge in Science, which had doubled in the last ten
years. The five year secondary schooling and the extension of science degree
courses to four years seems essential.
There are few things in every day life for which scientists are not
directly responsible, and to feed the world near miracles will be required
from plant, and animal biologists, chemists, physiologists and geologists, so
that the calculated world population in the next 50 or 100 years may be fed.
With all the development around us in organic chemistry, biochemistry,
pharmaceutics, pharmacology, bacteriology, etc., we should see that every
boy and girl is given instruction in science.
The University course in pure science is 3 years and applied science

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