Attracting and retaining young professionals in horticulture (MT11006)

What was it all about?

The Primary Industry Centre for Science Education (PICSE) was established to attract an increased supply of good quality young people into science-based primary industries, through activities in schools and early university.

PICSE is a national collaboration between universities, regional primary industries, national R&D corporations, national agribusiness, regional research institutes, local community organisations, schools and state government departments.

This project, which ran from 2013 to 2014, focussed on innovation in southern Australia by developing and strengthening an almond-industry-focused work program as well as a component in southern Queensland carrying out the same work with the banana industry.

The core activities of the PICSE program were…

• Classes with a Science Education Officer to expose students to scientific research and opportunities in their region
  
  
• A two-day program of teacher professional development in each Activity Centre
  
  
• Student scholarships for five-day industry science induction camps for selected Year 11-12 students
  
  
• A five-day student industry placement with scientists in specific local industries for scholarship students
  
  
• Production of science teaching resources that integrate into school science curricula using practical, horticultural examples
  
  
• The planning and management of a Science and Engineering Investigation Awards program that targets local horticultural industries.

Through the enhanced links with a wide variety of horticulture industry partners, the Centre’s activities ensured that students and teachers were exposed to a variety of R&D technologies within agriculture.