MURDOCH University secured four Commonwealth Science Lectureships established through $25 million allocated in the 1999 Federal Budget.

These funds have been used to support projects that establish university lectureships in science-related fields and innovative course development in science-related education.

These projects aim to assist universities to develop courses to meet the needs of industry, attract school leavers into science and to encourage industry in invest in its own future through education and training.

Murdoch’s involvement over 2001-2002 includes:

• The Farm to Plate Initiative - a $1.5 million project with Curtin to encourage the communication and training flow between universities, schools and industry about biotechnology and food science.

• Two lectureships (hydrometallurgy and process mineralogy) within the Metallurgy Program in the Minerals Council of Australia initiative. The hydrometallurgy project based at Murdoch is being co-ordinated by Professor Mike Nicol from the AJ Parker CRC. Associate Professor Lawrie Davidson from Murdoch’s Department of Mineral Science and Extractive Metallurgy joins a team at Curtin University and the WA School of Mines concentrating on process mineralogy.

• Making the Science Connection - a program aiming to increase science literacy amongst secondary school science teachers and students. An accredited online tertiary program (MSc in Science Education) for secondary science teachers will be established. This lectureship is a collaboration between six universities and administered through the University of Sydney.