KEY POINTS
Purpose
SCOPE’s name reflects its intention to establish the connection between the study of science in senior secondary school and the career options that become available as a result. Specifically, SCOPE’s objectives are:
- To increase community awareness of the roles that science, engineering and technology play in contributing to Australia's continuing economic and social well-being;
- To highlight the outstanding contributions to science and science education made by our researchers and science teachers; and
- To encourage our young people to consider continuing studies in science, mathematics and engineering beyond the compulsory years of schooling, and to consider entry into science-based careers.
Major SCOPE elements include:
- The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, the most prestigious science awards in Australia. The Prizes comprise the Prime Minister's Prize for Science, two further prizes in the Physical and Biological sciences, and two science teaching prizes.
- National Science Week, the Government’s annual celebration of science. The Week, held in August each year, attracts an audience of close to 1,000,000 Australians who participate in around 700 events across Australia.
- Funding for initiatives to encourage young people to continue to study science and maths and consider science-based careers. These include the Science and Engineering Challenge, ABC Science outreach activities, the Ultimo Science Festival and the National Youth Science Forum.
- Funding for initiatives promoting contemporary Australian science to the public. These include ‘Fresh Science’, which annually trains 16 early career researchers to clearly and entertainingly explain their research activities to a range of audiences; and the Eureka People’s Choice Award, which showcases the work of contemporary researchers selected from those nominated for the Australian Museum’s Eureka Prizes.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Length of Program and funding
SCOPE has an annual budget of approximately $4.3m and is funded through to the end of the 2010-11 financial year.
Eligibility and target audience
SCOPE’s broad objectives mean the Program targets a wide range of audiences including the general public, school students and the scientific community. SCOPE’s initiatives involve relationships with a range of organisations including the Academies of Science and Technological Sciences and Engineering, universities, museums, the Australian Science Teachers Association, the ABC and CSIRO.