HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
Women in Corrosion by The Australasian Corrosion Association Preston, Australia
aca@corrosion.com.au
M
odern, developed economies use technology in a vast, diverse range
academia, industry, or the education sector.
of ways, from the mathematics used to develop public-private key
“All these stakeholders face a common challenge: the need to tackle
encryption that secures internet transactions to the physics underpinning
the signiȴcant under-representation of women in the STEM workforce,
the many types of battery powering our cars, phones and computers.
because we can ill aord to under-utilise all of the nation’s available talent.
A diverse workforce, well educated in science, technology, engineering
To achieve this requires removing barriers to participation at every point
and mathematics – referred to as the STEM subjects – is required by most
of the STEM pipeline. We must create an environment where girls and
businesses, industries and organisations.
women can readily engage in STEM education and then use those skills
According to the 2019 Women in STEM Decadal Plan, prepared by the
to progress through their careers to senior levels,” the AAS report states.
Australian Academy of Science (AAS) and the Australian Academy of
In many ways, the corrosion industry reȵects this general state of aairs,
Technology and Engineering, every organisation in Australia is increasingly
being reliant on researchers – investigating both the process of corrosion
reliant on STEM skills to thrive, whether they operate in government,
and ways to control it – and practitioners managing its application.
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There is a need to tackle the signiȴcant under-representation of women in the STEM workforce.
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