Australia needs more people who think like scientists—here's what that means

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: How we think and feel about science develops from an early age—and we never know where that early interest might take us. As a young child, she was fascinated by the way a glass prism can split sunlight into different colors.

At university, she studied the way light can interact with liquids. Now Hannah works in the food industry, using light to study how oat milk changes when mixed with hot coffee. The reason your barista can make a great plant-based flat white is the knowledge developed by people like Hannah.

Her example shows how curiosity about the world can translate into an interest in science, a discipline that's vital to understanding—and improving—our modern world. However, too few people in Australia are studying science. So we stand to lose a future where we can use the tools of science to understand why things happen.

Science literacy isn't just about knowledge. It's about the ability to reason, evaluate evidence and make informed decisions in a complex, changing world. Thinking like a scientist is a vital skill in a world of misinformation about climate change, renewable energy, generative artificial intelligence (AI) and more.

Employers value willingness to learn, problem-solving, communication and digital literacy. But science has a marketing problem. The Australian government has shifted to focusing on vocations and "job ready" thinking.

Paired with parental attitudes toward occupational aspirations ("you should attend uni so you can get a good job"), this means students are increasingly attracted to degrees with clear career outcomes, such as nursing, engineering or law. There's a widening gap between training and employment because students can't see how areas of study connect with industry or improve their daily lives. There are some areas of science where the employment path is clear, and those can be just as popular with students.