That’s the challenge being thrown down by former Launceston Church Grammar School teacher and Science Teachers Association of Tasmania committee member Doug Grubert.

Mr Grubert has been at Grammar for the past seven years but has finished up his time there to spend more time at STAT – to focus more on growing engagement in science among students.

He said while there was some movement at some schools in the North, he would like to see more students taking on science with an intention to pursue a science-based career.

“The North-West of Tasmania is leading the country, there are some fantastic things happening there and I’d like to see some more students engage with science in the North,” he said.

STAT is hosting a science teacher’s conference in March next year to focus on some of these key issues – attracting and retaining students in the sciences.

While he appreciated the discourse and engagement with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Mr Grubert said he wanted to see that engagement grow into the future.

“There is some wonderful things happening here, pockets with amazing students and teachers but I would like to see engagement, and engagement is the key word here, grow into the future,” he said.

Mr Grubert said more education about the value of science and science-based careers was needed as well as encouraging already engaged students to take up the myriad opportunities on offer.

For those wanting to flex their science muscles with a competition, STAT runs the Tasmanian Science Talent Search, a competition run each year to celebrate quality science teaching and learning in all Tasmanian schools through the recognition of outstanding work in a variety of scientific areas.

There are different categories to the awards – with information on next year’s awards now available online at the STAT website.

Mr Grubert said the research investigation category had an increase in entries this year, but challenged students and teachers to improve this year.

He said he wanted to show science could be a fun and rewarding career but also ensure people understood the rigorous and academic nature of the work.