Science education and the pathways that young people choose have always been intimately linked with the industries that use science, technology, engineering and mathematics and the associated service industries such as law, finance and commerce.

As the Australian economy continues to grow and the technological rate of change in the world continues to increase exponentially, the very purpose of science education is inevitably evolving. It may be about fostering a culture of creativity and innovation to meet the needs of the knowledge economy, or providing a platform on which to build lifelong learning in current industrial drivers of the economy. Whatever the spectrum of purposes science education must fulfil, it will necessarily be informed by the needs of industry today and tomorrow.

Science21 works to build capacity within science education to ensure that the experiences young people have at school enable them to make meaningful connections with the wider world and open up the landscape of education and career pathways available to them.