Recruiting Australia’s future plant biosecurity scientists
Capturing the imagination of school children and developing their enthusiasm for protecting plants from pests and diseases will assist building Australia’s future capacity in science and plant biosecurity. Many studies conducted in Australia and overseas have demonstrated that children who are introduced to science and related disciplines at an early age are more likely to pursue a career in these areas. However, once students acquire an interest in science it is important that this interest is nurtured, particularly through the teenage years.
Our school education strategy commits to engage students throughout the full school continuum. The education strategy includes a variety of learning activities that have been delivered through three key elements – Plant Pest Investigation with Lily and Sam, Plant Pest Investigators and Plant Pest Investigations - aimed at pre-primary, primary, and secondary school students respectively.
By portraying plant biosecurity and science in a positive and exciting manner it is hoped that more students will be encouraged to pursue science as a career and in the long-term, fill some of the science, engineering and technology skills shortages.
We have translated plant biosecurity knowledge into interesting and relevant activities that can be easily accessed and understood by teachers and students. The resources have been extensively reviewed by education specialists and scientists. The program was also trailed in schools across Australia. Feedback from these trials was extremely positive and highlighted our commitment to providing quality educational resources.
Comments included:
“Format worked well. We would like to do it again next year.”
“Very comprehensive and easy to use in class.”
“The program is interesting and allows a varying range of investigation choices”
“Well researched and structured well with background notes, explicit teaching sessions and observable outcomes.”
“It was very easy to integrate this program into our regular curriculum.”
Resources developed for pre-primary, primary and secondary stages of education allow us to reinforce and build on information students have already learned. It also gives us the opportunity to ensure that students remain engaged in science throughout their education.
While the school education strategy is focused on educating future generations; it is also an important tool to help raise awareness of plant biosecurity. We aim to provide positive images of plant biosecurity professionals and to provide links between schools and the wider community with relevant government agencies and the plant biosecurity industry.
We have been extremely pleased with the uptake of our education program among schools and industry, including some of our participants who are involved with the CSIRO Scientists in Schools Program. The program has also encouraged the use of both the Pest and Disease Image Library (PaDIL) and our Remote Microscope Network which were promoted throughout the education program. Due to the high level of interest in the remote microscopes we are investigating the feasibility of linking schools with the network.
Copies of Plant Pest Investigation with Lily and Sam (pre-primary/primary), and limited copies of Plant Pest Investigators (primary school unit), are now held by our participants in each state, including state agencies, Museum Victoria and CSIRO. If you are working with a school and are interested in obtaining either resource, please contact the Education and Training Program Leader for the contact details of the person in your state who is distributing the books. An electronic version of the primary school unit is also available. For further information about our various school activities please visit our schools webpage or contact the Education and Training Program Leader, Dr Kirsty Bayliss.
Photo caption: Plant Pest Investigators, primary school unit.
