Australian Science, Australia’s Future: What we found

Image Description

This initiative analysed Australia’s science capability to meet three national challenges informed by the forces shaping the economy listed in the Australian Government’s 2023 Intergenerational Report.

Drawing on data dashboards, expert workshops, and foresight techniques, the Academy mapped scientific capability and shortfalls across three major challenge areas – technological transformation; demographic change; and climate change, decarbonisation and environment – all three underpinned by sovereign capability and science literacy.

Based on these challenges, the report identifies the following eight science capabilities increasing most in demand over the coming decade:

  • Agricultural science
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Biotechnology
  • Climate science
  • Data science
  • Epidemiology
  • Geoscience
  • Materials science

Gaps in capability

The findings indicate gaps across all eight capabilities, shown below.

Gaps in capability at a glance

Gaps in capability

Rating scale for the graphic above:

  • Green thumb: No trends decreasing. No gap or unlikely to have a gap in capability.
  • Amber thumb: Some trends decreasing or no majority of increasing trends. Some gap or likely gap in capability.
  • Red thumb: Most trends decreasing. Existing gap or certain gap in capability.
  • Question mark: Insufficient data available.

See a detailed text description of this graphic, that aims to improve the accessibility of the graphic for a broad audience.

Findings

The Academy’s analysis found:

We aren't training enough geoscientists

– yet our economy rests heavily on resources, and ‘Critical Minerals’ is a priority of the National Reconstruction Fund

Jobs in artificial intelligence (AI) are expected to surge

– yet only one in four Year 12 students is studying mathematics – the fundamental science discipline

We’re facing national shortages of materials scientists

– and the workforce in process and resources engineering is also projected to decline

The current pipeline and study choices of students is not aligned with the needs of our future workforce

– with declining STEM participation and teacher shortages threatening relevant capability

Read the report

Read the full report 

Read the abridged report

Additional resources

General

ASAF critical findings: eight priority areas at risk

Australian Science, Australia’s Future: Science 2035 reveals dangerous gaps in workforce, infrastructure and coordination that will cripple Australia's ability to meet 2060 challenges.
ASAF gaps
General

ASAF: A novel approach

Australian Science, Australia’s Future: Science 2035 is the most comprehensive report of its kind with wide-ranging implications for all sectors in Australia. In undertaking this project, the Academy developed and applied a novel method to address a fundamental question: Does the science we have match the science we need?
Publication

Australian science, Australia's future: Science 2035

An investigation into Australia's future science capability needs reveals eight key areas with projected gaps.
Australian science, Australia's future: Science 2035. Where do we want to be?