FASTS' Forum May 8 - Science and mathematics education

[Simon Haberle]

Dear AQUA members,
Please see the invitation below from Toss Gascoigne of FASTS to an event
in Canberra on the 8th May.  If there is an AQUA member interested in
going, we have a complimentary pass available (no transport costs paid
of course).  Please contact me if you are interested.

Cheers, Simon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Simon Haberle
President, Australasian Quaternary Association
School of Geography and Environmental Science,
PO Box 11A, Monash University,
Victoria 3800
AUSTRALIA

Tel: +61-3-9905-2932 or x52939
Fax: +61-3-9905-2948
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FORUM ON SCIENCE AND MATHS EDUCATION

The keynote speaker at the FASTS' Forum this year is Brendan Nelson,
Minister for Education,
Science and Training.

The Forum will be held at the National Press Club in Canberra on
Wednesday 8 May.

Professor Chris Fell, President of FASTS, said the theme of the Forum is
"Science and
mathematics education: across the spectrum."

"We believe that the whole education sector is hungry for action, and
will listen with great
interest to the Minister's address at the National Press Club.

"Minister Nelson has signalled quite clearly in public statements and in
conversations with
FASTS that he intends to be an education innovator."

On a recent 'Sunday Program', the Minister said he plans to develop a
package of higher
education policy proposals for consideration by the Government in early
2003.

Professor Fell said that Australia's education system was riding on the
memory of past
successes, but it could be world-class again.

"Our education should compare favourably with the best.  This is
particularly so in science and
mathematics, because these subjects are the drivers of new industries
and new jobs, and provide
solutions to national environmental issues."

Professor Fell said connectivity and relevance were key issues.

"Are we equipping young people with the right skills for the workforce
or for the next
generation of scientists and innovators?  What role does the TAFE/VET
sector play?"

The Forum will run from 9 am, to allow leaders from industry and
education to put forward their
solutions to education issues.  They have been asked to identify the
skills Australians need to
succeed in industry and as the next generation of scientists and
innovators.



Registration for the Forum is available from the FASTS' web site:
www.fasts.org

For interview:      Professor Chris Fell            (02) 9327 4962;  
0438  27 4 962

Information:            Toss Gascoigne          (02) 6257 2891;  0408
704 442

-- 

Mr Toss Gascoigne
Executive Director
Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies
PO Box 218
DEAKIN WEST ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA

Phone:          +61 2 - 6257 2891 (work); +61 2 - 6249 7400 (home)
Fax:            +61 2 - 6257 2897
Mobile:         0408 704 442
Email:          fasts at anu.edu.au (Toss Gascoigne)
Web address:    http://www.FASTS.org
FASTS' ABN:     ABN 71 626 822 845