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Media Release
First National Symposium on Women in Science and Engineering
30 March 2007
The Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Education, Science and Training and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues, today hosted 100 women and girls at the first Women in Science and Engineering Symposium at Parliament House.
“This Symposium brings together more than 50 of our leading female scientists, engineers and researchers, and 50 young female students from across Australia who have an interest in a science-based career," Minister Bishop said.
“Each of these inspirational women nominated a female student from Years 7–10 to participate in the Symposium, and will be encouraged to develop a mentoring role with the students.
“Women continue to be under-represented in critical fields related to maths and science. This innovative event provides a forum to encourage girls to pursue higher level science studies and science careers.
“Symposium participants will hear from women who have made significant achievements in science and engineering.”
Minister Bishop said today’s students need strong skills in maths and science to succeed in fields like computer programming and bioengineering, and wider fields including business, advertising and management.
“Students studying maths and science learn problem-solving skills that are valuable in many aspects of life and work.”
“Bringing female scientists and students together is one of the ways that we can enthuse the next generation of scientists, engineers and researchers.
“Our country cannot afford to lose half our potential scientists and innovators,” Minister Bishop said.
Photos from the event are available at http://www.dest.gov.au/ministers/bishop/photos.htm
Further information about the speakers is attached.
Media Contacts:
Minister Bishop’s Office: Tory Vidler 0414 228 727
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Media enquiries 02 6240 7300
Non-media enquiries 1300 363 079
Attachment
Symposium Spokespeople
Dr Clio Cresswell
Dr Clio Cresswell is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Sydney and is the author of Mathematics and Sex (published though Allen and Unwin); she features regularly on television, radio and press.
Born in England and schooled in the South of France, Clio studied mathematics at The University of New South Wales and following a stint as an actuary, returned to university to win the University Medal and complete a PhD. Clio’s continual research into unconventional topic areas and connecting themes between all subjects inspires audiences to think about what they do in a fresh, productive way.
Air Vice-Marshal Julie Hammer (engineer)
Air Vice-Marshal Julie Hammer is currently the National Vice President of Engineers Australia and will assume the Presidency in 2008.
AVM Hammer is an electronics engineer, and has served in the Royal Australian Air Force for over 28 years in the fields of aircraft maintenance, technical intelligence, electronic warfare, and information and communications technology (ICT) systems. She was the first serving woman to achieve One Star rank in 1999 and is the only woman in the history of the Australian Defence Force to have achieved Two Star rank.
She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physics, a Masters degree in Aerosystems Engineering and a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies.
Dr Deborah Rathjen
Dr Deborah Rathjen, a biologist, is CEO & Managing Director of Bionomics Limited, an Australian Stock Exchange listed company developing new treatments for cancer and also for diseases of the central nervous system. As inventor of 10 patent families and co-inventor of Peptech's TNF technology which has yielded in excess of $300 million to date in returns to that company, she has extensive experience of intellectual property and licensing issues in the biotechnology industry.
Dr Susan Forrest
Dr Susan Forrest is the Director/CEO of the Australian Genome Research Facility Ltd. Her role has enabled the growth of large scale genomic science in Australian including the first large genome sequencing project, that of the Tammar Wallaby, in collaboration with the National Institute of Health in the USA.
Susan has over 20 years experience in genetics and molecular biology including research into both single gene defects and complex traits including neuromuscular and behavioural disorders. In addition to her scientific accomplishments, Dr Forrest also holds a degree in Business Administration.
Dr Cathy Foley
Dr Cathy Foley oversees research in nanoscale manufacturing and industrial physics encompassing superconducting devices and systems, nanotechnology, bioengineering materials and quantum engineering.
Cathy attained a first class honours degree in physics and a diploma in education from Macquarie University. She was awarded a PhD from the same university for her thesis on the physics and materials science of semi conducting thin films.
In 2003, Cathy was awarded the Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science for her voluntary work in promoting science in schools and on radio. This year she was elected the President of the Australian Institute of Physics, the first woman President in its 44 year history.
Ms Rebecca Russell
Rebecca Russell is a Senior Infrastructure Analyst for the Victorian Department of Infrastructure and graduated from the University of Melbourne with an honours degree in engineering and a degree in Science. She is currently completing her Masters degree in Business Administration at Melbourne Business School.
Rebecca has received awards including the National Association for Women in Construction’s 2005 Award for Excellence as a Young Achiever, and the prestigious 2005 VicRoads Victorian Young Professional Engineer of the Year award.
Dr Naomi McClure-Griffiths
Dr Naomi McClure-Griffiths moved to Australia in 2001 to take up the position as a Bolton Post-Doctoral Fellow at CSIRO’s Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF), which she completed in 2004. Naomi is currently a Science Leader at the ATNF where she uses CSIRO’s radio telescopes, such as those at Parkes and Narrabri in the west of New South Wales, to probe the hydrogen gas that makes up much of our Galaxy. In 2003, she discovered a new ‘arm’ of the Milky Way.
Naomi studied Physics and French at Oberlin College, a liberal arts college in Ohio, USA, before gaining her PhD from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, USA, in 2001. Her doctoral work received the Best Dissertation Award for Physical Sciences and Engineering, University of Minnesota Graduate School, Minnesota, USA, 2003.
In 2006, she was awarded the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year in the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science.
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