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“It highlights the hugely important role of trusted science organisations to share science with the public,” says Schubert.
Nine in 10 Australians trust science and scientists.Credit:iStock
Diversifying the space
What research also shows is that diversity isn’t just important for equity, it’s also important for excellence.
“Diverse design teams in engineering and science look at problems from different perspectives and life experiences, which makes the final product stronger,” says Schubert.
“Unless we reach into the full talent pool, we will be missing out on some of the best potential science talent.”
That’s why game-changing equity initiatives like Australian Science Innovations and Tech Girls Movement Foundation are so important to create more diverse role models appearing as STEM experts in the media.
“It has never been more important to enable bright, motivated students from all walks of life to reach their full potential and achieve their dreams through careers in STEM,” says Sideridis.
The 3M study found only 28 per cent of Australians who do not work in a STEM field – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – have considered pursuing a career in STEM, compared to 37 per cent worldwide.
To counter this, 3M is working closely with its partners who are helping to build the pipeline of Australia’s next STEM professionals. Sideridis believes that attracting a new generation of scientists starts with access to education and motivating students to pursue STEM.
“The science community – and therefore the world – will only benefit from a greater diversity of talent across gender, racial and ethnic lines. As we can see from our latest State of Science index data, we know this is something the Australian population wants to see more of, with 86 per cent of people agreeing it is important to increase diversity and inclusion in STEM fields,” explains Sideridis.
“To attract new, diverse talent we need everyone to have the same opportunities to follow their curiosity and get exposure to the exciting career options across science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”
3M is committed to creating five million unique STEM and skilled trade learning experiences for under-represented individuals. To find out more about Australia’s perception of science and to see more results, find more on the 3M State of Science Index here.