Recruit girls to maths launched

"The Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) and the BHP Billiton Foundation have launched Choose Maths, a five-year national program that will turn around public perception of mathematics and statistics as a career choice for girls and young women." according to The University of Melbourne.

Working from the ground up, Choose Maths begins with a focus on mathematics education in primary and secondary schools.

Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The BHP Billiton Foundation has contributed $22 million toward the partnership, which will enable AMSI Schools to expand its outreach capacity across Australia over the next five years.
The University of Melbourne is a member of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute and hosted the launch of Choose Maths.

The program will contribute to the health of the mathematics pipeline in Australia from school through university and out to industry and the workplace by:

• providing mathematics-ready teacher professional development in 120 schools across Australia and resources for every school in the country;
• developing a national mathematical sciences careers awareness campaign;
• establishing an "inspiring women in mathematics network"; and
• holding annual BHP Billiton awards for excellence in the teaching and learning of mathematics.
• Research-based strategies for encouraging girls and young women into mathematics and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related courses will be core to the program. The large-scale careers awareness campaign will be driven by research into community perceptions about mathematics.

Innovation-active businesses are around twice as likely to use engineering and science skills, and three times more likely to use information and communications technology skills than innovation-inactive businesses.
Read more...

Source: The University of Melbourne