Zaneta Mascarenhas (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) 20 and 21 March 2024 mark the Science Meets Parliament 2024 event in Canberra; and

(b) Science Meets Parliament provides the opportunity for parliamentarians to directly engage with Australian scientists;

(2) acknowledges the work of Science and Technology Australia to organise the event;

(3) recognises the:

(a) importance of science in helping Australia solve some of its biggest challenges and diversifying the economy; and

(b) Government's commitment to support and celebrate the achievements of Australian scientists; and

(4) further notes the Government's goals to embed science in government policy making.

It's time for Science Meets Parliament. As both an MP and a STEM professional, this is literally a time when my two worlds collide and, as collision theory explains, for a chemical reaction to occur, particles must collide with one another. So I see this engagement between policymakers and STEM professionals as an exciting opportunity where scientists and STEM professionals can share what is at the forefront of Australian scientific discovery. What I hope is that in return policymakers react with more evidence based decision-making.

I have said this before: science in practice today is the technology of tomorrow, and I continue to see that STEM improves our lives in the electorate of Swan. At the inaugural Swan International Women's Day Awards, scientist of the year was awarded to the very talented Dr Parwinder Kaur. Dr Kaur is an associate professor in biotechnology; founder of a start-up; and is advising JETSI. The coolest thing is that she also maps DNA. This is critical for our understanding; we need to know our genetic past to help solve problems of the future. This is groundbreaking research and it's important for Australian biodiversity and agricultural advancements.

Parwinder is also an advocate for science communication. She's doing this by bridging the gap between complex research and public understanding, and this is what Science Meets Parliament is all about. The Albanese government is putting science at the forefront of our decision-making, and I will continue to encourage that this happens because I'm passionate about STEM. Amusingly for my staff, we ended up going to Scitech for our 2023 Christmas celebrations. For those who don't know, that's the WA version of Questacon—a bit smaller though! It's where my copper and tellurium shirt is from. People might think it says 'CuTe' but nerds will know what it actually means! While I'm the only STEM professional in my electoral office, it's clear that my passion for science is rubbing off.

On a serious note, I know that science was at the forefront of helping us function as a nation during the pandemic: vaccines were developed at unprecedented rates; network engineers connected us so that scores of people could work from home; and we saw local innovators and manufacturers develop health and safety gear when our global supply chains broke down.

Amber was one of the nominees for one of Swan's International Women's Day science awards. She was nominated for her work and her volunteering in the health profession during the COVID-19 pandemic. She helped the community to keep people safe and informed—an example of the unsung work often done by STEM professionals. Amber was also recognised for her achievements as an exemplary scientist in a predominately male field.

I know firsthand that women are underrepresented in the field of STEM. Scientifically, I know that diversity is strength and I see a future where Australia is a STEM a superpower. But to do this we need to broaden the mix of STEM professionals. Labor recognises this, and that's why we're working to promote STEM to diverse communities and to provide pathways to it for people from all walks of life. Labor's first step is the Diversity in STEM review. This review will guide changes to STEM programs to widen their appeal to more women and people from diverse backgrounds.

Over the next two days, as the Science Meets Parliament meetings continue, I encourage all members of this House and of the other place to explore the opportunities that science and STEM have to offer—to understand the real tangible difference that science makes to people's lives and to listen to the scientists who are at the forefront of discovery and change. We need to understand how we can collaborate to forge a future of scientific wonderment, where science forges a better life for Australians and secures a stable economy. To do this, the Albanese government has backed in the future by backing scientists and by investing in national STEM institutions and education programs. I hope that everyone enjoys Science Meets Parliament.

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