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Media Release
WOMEN GAIN HIGHER PROFILE IN AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH
K5306 23 June 1999
"Australian women scientists are world leaders in research," the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Dr David Kemp said today. Dr Kemp was commenting on the launch of the book Profiles: Australian Women Scientists, a National Library publication based on interviews from the Library’s Oral History collection. "This fascinating collection of life stories of leading Australian women scientists is a timely and inspiring record of the contributions that Australian women have made, and are making to the scientific and research world," said Dr Kemp. The scientists profiled in the book are: Jane Anderson (Plant biochemist), Adrienne Clarke (Plant biologist), Elizabeth Dennis (Plant molecular biologist), Shirley Jeffrey (Marine Scientist), Nancy Millis (Microbiologist), Mary Rose (Quantitative geneticist), Ann Henderson-Sellers (Climate scientist), Rhondda Jones (Environmental biologist), Suzanne Cory (Medical scientist), Mollie Holman (Physiologist), Alessandra Pucci (Medical scientist and entrepreneur), Ann Woolcock (Medical scientist), Rachel Makinson (Physicist), Mary O’Kane (Computer Engineer), Cheryl Praeger (Mathematician), Maria Skyllas-Kazacos (Industrial Chemist). "Australia owes a particular debt to these women. Many have helped further Australian research in fields critical to the emerging biotechnology revolution. These women are actively demonstrating leadership both in their particular fields of expertise and in the broader interface between science and the formulation of public policy." Dr Kemp said the 16 women in Profiles were outstanding role models for both young men and women starting out on their own research careers. "They have been responsible for breakthroughs and inventions that have had international recognition. While they are well known in their fields, it is also important for them to be well known by the general public," said Dr Kemp. Over the past few years there has been a significant increase in women taking science-based tertiary accredited school subjects and science is no longer regarded solely as a male domain. Women’s participation in science courses in TAFE increased from 47.7 percent in 1990 to 55.2 percent in 1997. Female undergraduate enrolments in university science courses have risen from 39 per cent in 1989 to 42.1 per cent in 1998. In 1998, commencing female medical students outnumbered males for the first time. Female postgraduate completions have more than doubled over the period 1989 to 1997. Over the same period, the proportion of women employed as academic staff has grown from 27 to 34 per cent. Participation by women in higher education more than doubled between 1975 and 1997 from 26 women per thousand aged 17-64 years, to 53 per thousand (15-64 years). Over the same period, higher education participation by males increased from 38 to 43 per thousand. This means that at the start of the survey period, the participation rate of women was 32 per cent less than for men. Twenty-two years later, the participation rate of women now exceeds that of men by 23 per cent. "Publications like this book should encourage young women to study science and inspire them to think about further scientific careers when entering university," said Dr Kemp. "I congratulate the National Library of Australia and author Dr Ragbir Bhathal on this important work."
Media contact: Samantha Herron (0412) 639 754 or (02) 6277 7460
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