Recently, British citizens from all walks of life, acknowledged the immense scientific achievements of Professor Hawking whilst admitting to little comprehension of his work in physics and cosmology.
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Scientists there are apparently respected and their work admired, yet in Australia scientific work is often ridiculed and treated with scepticism. Governments here superficially support the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) yet are quick to disregard commissioned scientific reports when the findings of such reports get in the way of their political agenda.
One of the latest examples occurred when the NSW government decided to protect feral horses in the Kosciuszko National Park, a decision that was contrary to the commissioned report findings of Professor David Watson, who said “the decision shows a wilful disregard for science that diminishes our collective future”.
If scientific conclusions are contrary to the desired government outcomes then such reports are often shelved and ignored.
Similar examples of governments spending huge tax-payer dollars merely to appease political interest groups and not in the pursuit of scientific facts, include;
- Tony Abbott’s squandering of more than $2 million over 3 years searching for evidence that “sounds” emitted by wind turbines have detrimental health effects on those in proximity, when there was already no scientific evidence to support this claim.
- The prolonged funding of sceptics of climate-change so vested interests in coal could survive financially for a longer period.
- The selective “cherry-picking” of recommendations from the report by Alan Finkel on the future of the National Energy Market.
- The denouncing of Scientific conclusions regarding water flows required by the Murray Darling Basin in support of environmental sustainability of our river systems.
In his letter of resignation, Professor Watson wrote; “Science is not a special interest group; scientists don’t lobby for favours nor profit from political decisions. We are ambassadors for knowledge, the conscience of the natural world. The wilful disregard you have for science diminishes our collective future”.
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No wonder the population generally holds politicians in such low regard as a result of their opportunistic behaviour and their “disregard for science”.
No wonder it is also that Australia has a crippling shortage of engineers and that Australian students in the field of science have slipped from 4th position to 14th in recent years according to OECD education rankings.
Where is government leadership showing that science “matters” and scientific work will be valued? The federal government does not even have a Minister for Science so students know that science is valued lowly.
Until our governments show genuine respect for the work of scientists and those engaged in STEM pursuits then Australia will slide further backwards globally which will certainly “diminish our collective future” including wholesale irreversible damage to our environment.
Ian Cooper California Gully
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