How we think and feel about science develops from an early age \u2013 and we never know where that early interest might take us.<\/p>\n
Take Hannah. As a young child, she was fascinated by the way a glass prism can split\u00a0sunlight into different colours<\/a>. At university she studied the way light can interact with liquids.<\/p>\n Now Hannah works in the food industry, using light to study how oat milk changes when mixed with hot coffee. The reason\u00a0your barista can make<\/a>\u00a0a great plant-based flat white is thanks to knowledge developed by people like Hannah.<\/p>\n Her example shows how curiosity about the world can translate into an interest in science, a discipline that\u2019s vital to understanding \u2013 and improving \u2013 our modern world.<\/p>\n However, in Australia not enough people are studying science. So we stand to lose a future where we can use the tools of science to understand why things happen.<\/p>\n Science literacy\u00a0isn\u2019t just about knowledge<\/a>. It\u2019s about the ability to reason, evaluate evidence, and make informed decisions in a complex, changing world.<\/p>\n Thinking like a scientist is a vital skill in a world of misinformation about climate change, renewable energy, generative artificial intelligence (AI), and more.<\/p>\n Employers value<\/a>\u00a0willingness to learn, problem-solving, communication and digital literacy.<\/p>\n But science has a marketing problem. The Australian government has shifted to focusing on vocations and \u201cjob ready<\/a>\u201d thinking.<\/p>\n Paired with\u00a0parental attitudes<\/a>\u00a0towards occupational aspirations (\u201cyou should attend uni so you can get a good job\u201d), it means students are increasingly attracted to degrees with clear career outcomes such as nursing, engineering or law.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a widening gap between training and employment because students can\u2019t see how areas of study connect with industry or improve their daily lives.<\/p>\n There are some areas of science where the employment path is clear, and those can be just as popular with students. A good example is agricultural science degrees, which have good industry engagement (including internships and placements) and good career prospects.<\/p>\n But many young people in Australia are not aware of the diverse career pathways that are possible with science degrees. Demand for\u00a0material scientists is growing<\/a>\u00a0as new technologies develop in electronics, medicine, energy production and space science. But enrolments in the subjects that underpin materials science, such as\u00a0chemistry<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0physics<\/a>, are declining.<\/p>\n The number of science students at Australian universities has\u00a0remained stable over recent years<\/a>, but has fallen as a proportion of all university enrolments.<\/p>\n This highlights a problem. It takes a long time for students to respond to job market changes and to enter the science pipeline. There is a significant time lag to build the workforce in critical areas.<\/p>\n A\u00a0recent government report<\/a>\u00a0shows that in the next five years, professional, scientific and technical services will grow faster than any other industry except healthcare. The time to bolster the science pipeline is now.<\/p>\n Unlike paths of study that are highly directed towards particular jobs \u2013 such as nursing \u2013 if you study science it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you\u2019ll end up working in a lab. The old adage \u201cnot all scientists wear white coats\u201d is undeniably true. In fact, the\u00a0vast majority of science graduates work<\/a>\u00a0in business, government, policy, education and technology.<\/p>\n A\u00a02019 study<\/a>\u00a0revealed a surprisingly high number of Fortune 100 chief executives have Bachelor of Science degrees.<\/p>\n On the other hand, it\u2019s not all that surprising. The key reason why science graduates show up in unexpected places is their skill set rather than just their knowledge.<\/p>\n Science graduates don\u2019t follow a linear path. Instead, they\u00a0evolve throughout their careers<\/a>\u00a0and learn new interdisciplinary skills to solve complex problems. That\u2019s precisely the point of a science degree.<\/p>\n Science has direct and measurable effects on Australia\u2019s economy. Even areas of study considered highly theoretical can have a major impact. For example, advanced physical and mathematical sciences\u00a0contribute directly around 11% of GDP<\/a>\u00a0to the Australian economy.<\/p>\n To turn the\u00a0trajectory of science<\/a>\u00a0around we need to encourage students to engage with science early. That includes providing\u00a0engaging and inspiring activities<\/a>\u00a0in primary school.<\/p>\n But we should also insist young people continue to study science in high school without consideration of\u00a0gaming ATAR scores or university entrance<\/a>.<\/p>\n Many universities are\u00a0removing or lowering prerequisite subjects as entry requirements<\/a>, which sends a signal that students don\u2019t need to engage with \u201cdifficult\u201d areas of study.<\/p>\n Universities need to do a better job of explaining the variety of job and career options available to science students. Students need to show employers how their science skills are valuable in different workplaces. Governments need to have\u00a0policies that encourage industry to invest in research and development<\/a>\u00a0so careers using the tools of science become more common, and contribute to productivity.<\/p>\n All students need to be exposed to science. Talk to the kids in your life about science, take part in a\u00a0National Science Week activity<\/a>, visit a science centre, or encourage them to keep studying science. You\u2019ll likely have a lot of fun and help to prepare them for an uncertain future.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Published 24 August 2026.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n This article was co-authored by Nathan Kilah, Associate Professor in Chemistry and Associate Head Learning and Teaching, University of Tasmania. It <\/em><\/strong>was originally published in <\/em>The Conversation<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n