Research Drives 40-55% Nation’s Wealth BUT Young Scientists Are Leaving

Thinking Australians are very concerned about short term thinking and the future we are creating for our grandkids. The ABC’s Science Show presenter, Robin Williams, commented passionately this morning when discussing a contest to identify our top five young scientists under 40.

Gloom, Few Jobs & Little Funding, Despite Wealth Coming From University-Based Innovation

Recently returned from a trip to the US, Robin Williams says:

• The standard of our young scientists is ‘immaculate’ according to the highly regarded Nature magazine. This esteem he found was also reflected in comments from Americans currently working with Australian scientists.
• HOWEVER, scientists working in research here spend about one third of their time writing grants of which one in ten to one in fifteen is successful.
• 40-55% of Australia’s wealth comes from innovation based on research carried out in our universities. An American ex-congressman, acknowledging their cutbacks in this field, said that the US Congress had no clue about the connection. Robin Willams shared the sentiment saying that most of our ‘bloody parliament’ had no idea either.

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THE QUESTION: How can we be so dumb?
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Australian philanthropist Harold Mitchell, whose Foundation funds projects working in health, education and the arts, observes:

“Australia has great scientists but if we don’t use them we’ll lose them..

We need to realise that every dollar invested in research has at least doubled through our thriving biotechnology sector and its capacity to turn lab-bench discoveries into improved health.

Australia’s medicine industry is our most valuable high-tech export industry, worth $4 billion per annum…Medical science pays off.

Currently we are a disgrace…

The Australian Government’s investment in research has dropped to its lowest level since 1984. We’re now ranked 18th out of 20 advanced economies – just ahead of Greece and the Slovak Republic – for Government research spending as share of GDP.”

We Need Leadership Of Substance, Solutions, A Possible Way Forward

Also speaking about a future pathway for Australia, in relation to radicalisation and extremism, on Radio National this morning, was Kuranda Seyit, Secretary of the Muslim Council of Victoria.

Understandably Kuranda Seyit deplored politicians being ‘out of touch’ with the community and their lack of communication.

Importantly he identified the need for leadership.

As most of believe, our leaders need to outline possible solutions, a fair and just way forward, in contrast to the constant imprecise political rhetoric to which we, the voting public, have become all too accustomed…to the point of ‘switching off’.

Over to our would-be leaders!