Bert Van Manen (Forde, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Whilst I decline the opportunity to give my good friend and colleague the member for Moreton any further suggestions, I'd hate to think that he's going to start impersonating Dr Julius Sumner Miller. I think that's very dangerous territory, and so he should stick to his day job!

National Science Week is always a tremendous time for students and teachers right across Australia to get together and focus on the importance of science and technology to our community and to our economy. Not only does it recognise the economic and social contribution of those working in the science disciplines; it's also a great opportunity to inspire, motivate and encourage our young people to learn more about the sciences and to pursue a passion for science, technology, engineering and maths.

The government this year continues to back National Science Week, with funding support of $6.8 million each year going towards hosting some amazing events across Australia. We do this because we recognise the global economy is changing and that the majority of jobs in the future will require STEM skills, which is why it's so important to encourage our young students.

In my electorate, Saint Stephen's College held a science expo where the kids had the opportunity to try hands-on science activities, including virtual reality and various science competitions. My favourites were the marshmallow catapults and the science show, just to name a few of the activities available. Upper Coomera Library also held some amazing events, including the Magical World of Crazy Science Stage Show!, which is a science stage show performed by scientist and entertainer Richard Scholes. Kids as young as three enjoyed witnessing giant columns of elephant toothpaste, a genie's appearance from a lamp, massive smoke rings zooming, toilet paper flying and more. I must remind members that elephant toothpaste is not safe for human use, in case any members forgot to brush their teeth this morning! The library also hosted the free Digital Explorers Workshop in collaboration with BOP Industries. This workshop helps young people discover how science, technology, engineering and entrepreneurship can combine to help us solve some of the major issues facing our world today.

We talk at length about what our schools and universities are doing in the STEM field, but one of the things I think we forget to mention very often, or don't talk about often enough, is that the work of our small to medium-sized businesses right across this country in all manner of sectors, whether it be manufacturing, agriculture, dairy, mining—any number of our industries—requires these STEM skills each and every day. And the work they are doing in research and development we very rarely hear about. When I talk to small business, that is frequently one of the areas where they are looking to create that point of difference with their competitors.

A part of the importance of Science Week is that students developing these skills and abilities is not just about the students doing science and R&D subjects at university but about the skills they can then bring to our local business community to help it become better. A great example is Windaroo Valley State High School, where the students have the opportunity to learn and develop technologies to support the agriculture industry. The students are currently integrating robots into small planting beds to investigate how we can develop technologies to improve yields and efficiency in agriculture. It is these real-world, practical learnings that are delivering results and engaging our young people in STEM. That's why it is important in this chamber and across the political spectrum that we continue to support STEM for the development of new products, more efficient services and systems, higher quality health care, enhanced natural resource management, new ways to respond to changing environments, progress in tackling national global challenges, and better decision-making in government and industry. It is this work across the board that keeps our country going.

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