Mathematical sciences: Adding to Australia
This review examines the health of research in the mathematical sciences in Australia. The review also investigates the provision of high-level mathematical services, and demonstrates how the nation gains benefit from its investment in this discipline.
This strategic review of mathematical sciences research and advanced mathematical services in Australia has four principal findings and 20 recommendations.
Principal findings
It is essential for Australia to have a sound research base in the mathematical sciences for the following reasons:
- to be able to respond to new research ideas and opportunities
- to capture benefit through collaborative research and downstream technology transfer
- to educate future mathematical sciences graduates
- to contribute to the economic and cultural strength of the nation
- to benefit from international developments.
In general, Australia possesses a sound research base, although certain sub-disciplines, among them operations research and financial mathematics, need to be strengthened.
- The mathematical sciences are critical to Australia's economic competitiveness and quality of life, and will become more so. The mathematical sciences are generic and enabling technologies. They are essential to the prosperity of many value-adding industries in Australia.
- The mathematical sciences make a vital contribution to many fields of research and endeavour. The importance of this contribution needs further emphasis because
- much work in the mathematical sciences is multi-disciplinary in nature
- there is a spillover of concepts and techniques from the mathematical sciences into other disciplines, particularly through methods and software widely used in those disciplines
- researchers in many other disciplines (including the social sciences) who would not describe themselves as mathematical scientists nonetheless make extensive use of mathematical and statistical concepts.
- The mathematical sciences profession in Australia faces a number of major challenges:
- improving the image of the profession to match its importance and effectiveness
- balancing an age distribution which is currently skewed by the growth in the profession in the late 1960s and 1970s
- redressing the gender imbalance at senior levels
- attracting good undergraduate students into mathematical sciences courses
- increasing opportunities for postdoctoral level researchers
- broadening the funding base for research
- educating potential users to the value of the mathematical sciences
- improving technology transfer programs and associated educational programs, particularly for SMEs (small to medium enterprises).
If these challenges are not addressed successfully, there will be significant diminution in Australia's capabilities in the mathematical sciences, to the detriment of the nation.