Careers with STEM: Maths + Data 2025

CAREERS withSTEM

TERM 2, 2025

™

maths+data Sport + data = high performance

LE B U DOISSUE R P FO ITH FLEI ERS WICS M CAERCONO

Cameron McEvoy Maths+Olympic gold medalist

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The maths driving transport careers p16

Figuring out nature’s formula

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CAREERS with STEM.COM ENVIRONMENT

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TRANSPORT

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SPORT

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HEALTH

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BUSINESS

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FINANCE

YOU CAN CRACK CLIMATE CONUNDRUMS with us Global temperatures reached record highs in recent years – and even after accounting for known sources of global warming, scientists still struggled to explain why.

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Part of the answer may lie in sea ice, whose loss affects weather patterns, ocean circulation and marine ecosystems worldwide. Recently, mathematicians from Macquarie University discovered how heat is conducted in sea ice, by creating models to demonstrate that pockets of salt water trapped when ice freezes enhance its thermal conductivity. Chimneys of saltwater form in the ice, potentially causing it to crack. These new insights will be used in large-scale climate models, potentially leading to more accurate predictions of future conditions in the polar regions and beyond.

Macquarie is a leader in sustainability, ranked 24th in the world according to the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, 2024, and #2 in Australia in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025. The University is also home to the new Australian Harmony Centre for Ecosystem Futures, which focuses on developing nature-based solutions with national and global impact.

So when you major in maths at Macquarie as part of the Bachelor of Science, you will not only develop higher-order skills such as abstract reasoning, problem-solving, logical thinking and creativity, you’ll also be sought after by diverse employers and earn more across your career.

It all adds up to a career that is more than the sum of its parts.

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FIND OUT MORE AND APPLY TODAY

year 12 student

FOREWORD

michaela loukas

Mindful maths Year 12 student Michaela Loukas explains her love-hate relationship with maths

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s anxiety’? It’s ver heard the term ‘math y for super common, especiall get to e perfectionists who lik go st . But maths everything right on the fir it’s about doesn’t work that way – or, and embracing persistence, trial and err ving. the process of problem-sol ed maths. lov I 8 d During years 7 an t forgetting I found it therapeutic jus on one single in everything and honing wa I s falling behind problem. But by Year 10 disheartened. For in maths and becoming frustrating as a perfectionist, that was t once I reframed I struggled with failure. Bu the learning trial and error as part of uld use maths in process, and saw how I co in love with it. creative ways, I fell back n, I’ve been doing sio Now, in science exten ing my own AI a year-long project develop gnosis, and model for breast cancer dia Concepts like maths has been crucial. and functions help differentiation, calculus anics behind the me understand the mech developing. deep-learning model I’m iss, when are we Classmates often ask, “M ?” But maths going to use this in real life ived to be. rce isn’t as abstract as it’s pe of y It’s about developing a wa thinking through logical g and reasoning, problem-solvin lls that pattern recognition – ski ost alm oss are invaluable acr every field of life. ual, As someone who’s biling rgy ne I’ve even noticed the sy and between learning maths st george award as both learning a new language,

require recognising patte rns and understanding structure and syntax.

Maths really is the found ation of everything, so I’d advise students to stick with it in their senior years of schooling. Regardless of whether you do extension, advanc ed or standard maths, you’ll lea rn valuable skills for any fut ure career.

I hope to pursue a career that combines medicine and technology, and I know that maths wi ll be at the core of both of these fields . with mark coure mp Check out the rest of the mag for all the other interesting careers open to you if you stick with maths!

with maths, you’ll learn valuable skills that can be applied to any future career” 3

Michaela Loukas Year 12 student, Marist Catholic College, Penshurst NSW

MATHS & DATA

CONTENTS

Double issue: flip over for economics career s

What’s inside?

Everyday maths P6 Solving s

P20 P6

everyday puzzle

Maths can be the key to solving problems in the real world

P8 A–Z of

maths careers

Maths is important in so ur many careers! Here’s yo cheat sheet

P10 Data

science explained

P10

to Data science is the key unlocking the latest technologies

ace P11 Will AI replhe r?

+ X &=data (STEM) STEM ne maths

your maths teac

Combi (+ X). It’ll with your passion yo help you discover ur dream career!

Maths & data + …

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nd We ask if it’s time to ha maths to the machines

P16

P12 Sport

Faster, better, stronger with maths & data

P16 Transportat’s going places Choose a career th

P20 Environmatencot unts Land an eco gig th

P24 Health

P12

How to solve Australia’s health equation

P24

P26 Businessit

Why maths&data?

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aths and data are the ultima te power-ups to help make sen se of our complex world. They’ll allo w you to turn information into action! You don’t need to be a genius to get started. Dive in, be curious, and discover how maths and data can help shape your futu re career.

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

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With data skills, pays to get into business

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YOUR CAREER

Unsure of where to start? Looking for something new?

Got skills but not sure what jobs are suited to them?

Career information can be overwhelming, that’s why we have made it simple for you.

Explore yourcareer.gov.au to: • find occupations and career information based on your hobbies, skills and interests.

• complete a career quiz to start your career journey.

• search study and training options.

• read real life career journeys from Australian VET Alumni and case studies.

Visit yourcareer.gov.au today!

Know what you want to do when you finish school?

Got plans to do some study or training, start working, or take a gap year?

Download the School Leavers Information Kit for information about: • study or training options to upskill • financial support for further study • how to nail a job interview and more!

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yourcareer.gov.au/schoolleaver

MATHS & DATA

UPFRONT

SOLVING EVERYDAY PUZZLES

Maths isn’t just something you do in school – it’s all around you

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y when you’re ure, maths comes in hand rking out wo l, splitting a restaurant bil w much that ho travel times or calculating after the 20% sick hoodie actually costs nected to real world discount, but it’s also con ways. – Charis Palmer careers in so many other

2 #2 Creating

beautiful thproinducgstions,

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#1 Building stuff

Maths is essential in engine ering and architecture. Civil engine ers use central angle calculatio ns to design safe cur ved roads.

Architects apply geometry like adjacent and alternate angles to optimise solar panel placem ent for maximum energy efficiency .

In theatre and event and lighting specialists use linear l tro con to ns ctio quadratic fun , ign des e gam stage lights. In pers vectors enable game develo nts me ele ic to incorporate realist the like gravity and wind into gaming environment.

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#3 Looking after people

Nurses use time conversions to accurately give medications and fluids, like calculating IV drip rates. Understanding proportions helps them provide safe patient care. In public health, quadratic functions help predict medical service needs, such as estimating demand for mental health support after traumatic events.

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#4 Designing the future

In robotics, emotions are bro ken into mathematical codes to create algorithms, helping robots recognise human feelings. Sel f-driving cars rely on systems of linear equations to predict road safety moments, like overtaking ano ther car.

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#6 Fighting fires

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5 #5 Solving crimes

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

Firefighters use maths to pre dict and control wildfires. Factors like wind speed, terrain and rainfall (independe nt variables) affect how fast a fire spreads (dependent variable). By usi ng formulas incorporating these variables , experts can track fire paths and pla n the best way to fight them – and save live s!

to solve Forensic experts use maths erse Inv crimes after they happen. ine erm trigonometry helps them det at hs bullet angles or blood drop pat arcsin, crime scenes. Functions like cialists to arccos and arctan allow spe a ths ma g kin ma uncover details, tions. iga est inv ic powerful tool in forens

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Fast-track your career in technology and data

Looking for a versatile career in a high growth industry? ACU’s double degree in computer science and data science offers technical and theoretical skills to develop real world solutions to the challenges of tomorrow, whilst connecting you to those working at the disruptive edge of tech and data.

Study a Bachelor of Computer Science/ Master of Data Science acu.edu.au/computer-science 7

MATHS & DATA

UPFRONT

s r e e r a c s h t a A–Z of m

careers, and for some, it’s Maths is important in so many

the main game

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is for er Astronom erving and studying

is for Industrial engineerrove industries like

nterested in maths but confused about where it may take you?

Check out our list of careers that require you to have maths skills to succeed. Some may surprise you! – Amy Briggs

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is for High school maths teacher , you’ll help shape In this high-demand career dents! the future careers of your stu

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Astronomy is all about obs nets and galaxies, celestial objects like stars, pla lls! which takes serious maths ski

If you want to imp or retail, manufacturing, automotive ! this might be the path for you

is for cian Biostatistiabl e to

is for Journalist (data)

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In this career, you need to be t what is interpret results and predic s. ent erim going to happen in exp

Data journalists know how to interpret data and use it to tell tand. stories that others can unders

is for er Cryptograph living is

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for a Making and breaking codes ncies need age y (sp almost like being a spy ving is a must sol mcryptographers too). Proble in this field.

is for Data analyst

D

K

is for Kineticist (in chemistry and physics)

M involve working A lot of fields outside of STE you enjoy identif ying with large sets of data, so if this could be the trends and analysing data – career for you!

Using complex maths and phy sics, kineticists work out how objects, like big machiner y, move.

is for gist Epidemiolo prevent the spread

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is for Forecasting st system anskialls,ly you could

MrisesfoearrcMaherrket

is for Lecturer

E

As a lecturer you can specia lise in any par t of mathematics that interes ts you (plus, hopefully research at the sam e time).

Monitoring and trying to in maths. of diseases are skills based

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Work for big-name brands in the retail, technology or health spaces to help improve products!

Using your maths and data l industries like the make predictions for critica energy sector.

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is for Graphic designer s and knowing

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Being able to use ratio relation ple’s eyes are vital shapes that look good to peo . for a career in graphic design

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

is for Nurse

As a nurse it is really import ant to know ratios and relationships between weight and other body factor s when giving patients medication.

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OmisafonargerOperations

is for Video game designer e that things

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Wherever there are people wo rking in an organisation, there is someon e needed to make sure that everything runs sm oothly.

king sur Developing, trialling and ma in dimensional look just right requires skills thinking and physics.

P is for Quality Q control inspector

is for pharmacist

is for Weather forecaster

Making sure that people hav e the right medication dosage is critica l!

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calculations to Meteorologists use complex ng predict the weather, often usi p elo dev y algorithms the themselves.

Using trials and switching out variables is all par t of the job for a quality con trol inspector.

R

is for Robotics engineer Rob

ots can be used for almost any thing, but they do require a lot of progra mming, which is where your love of maths com es in!

X

is for X-Ray technician An X-Ray

or is for Surtovmaey p out spaces,

S

technician helps doctors dia gnose and measure what’s going on in sick patients’ bodies.

Sur veyors use maths hms to recreate programming complex algorit the space digitally.

Y

is for Yield analyst It’s imp

isor is for Tax aisodv rs need

T

Taxes can be tricky, so adv ecially when juggling a strong base in maths, esp nt people. different tax types for differe

ortant to have someone to che ck that producers are making the righ t amount of stuff in industries such as mining , cosmetics, medicine and more!

is for Urban planner

U

Z

is for Zoologist

Maybe you have a passion for endangered animals? Maths is important for tracking the populations of animals both in zoos and in the wild.

es involves a lot of Planning and developing citi of materials, crunch maths to calculate the cost data and forecast growth.

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MATHS & DATA

UPFRONT

Data science is shaping our future From personalised shopping suggestions to space exploration, data science is key to unlocking the latest technologies

#1

Entry point

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and inputting it Data entry is collecting data as databases h into organised systems suc a can range or spreadsheets. Types of dat resses, and from customer names to add d audio. financial details to transcribe

fy ver wondered how Spoti so sic mu in knows your taste s ow kn ix well? Or how Netfl all It’s ? what you want to watch ce. en sci ta da thanks to t Data science uses differen and ise an org ct, lle co techniques to ation to explore large sets of inform s ow all is make patterns. Th ed businesses to make inform ir the e lis decisions and persona is used ce en products for you. Data sci to , are hc in everything from healt us even es sports and retail. NASA ploration! data science for space ex reer There are three main ca data entry, ce: en sci categories in data ence. These data analysis and data sci r earlier ou can be split up based on entry), ta definition of collecting (da ) and organising (data analysis exploring (data science).

#2

Finding answers

Data analysis is about organi sing, cleaning and studying data to answer specific questions. It can provide businesses with use ful insights, such as the bestperforming products or the least-watched shows. Career s that use data analysis skills include astrophysicist, bioinformatician, infrastructur e architect and many more.

Potential employers Netflix TikTok Airbnb

#3

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Making sense of theingw, staortistldics

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with cod Data scientists create models shape our future. and AI to solve big problems and te in Boston is using AI For example, the Wyss Institu can help with crop to develop artificial bees that and more! pollination, climate monitoring world spanning ing ow Data science is a fast-gr ts can be well ntis many industries. Plus, data scie enjoy using you if So paid, and are in high demand! , this could ms ble e pro maths and technology to solv -Ca Horgan tchpole be the career for you! – Saskia

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YouTube Google Amazon Spotify Medicare Sports teams

E C A L P E R I A L L I W ?

R E H C A E T S H YOUR MAT Maths is about questions as much as answers

A

I has already beaten humans at games like chess and Go, so does that mean we can all quit maths and let machines do it for us? Soz, but no.

AI can handle large datasets, perform complex calculations and even find patterns that might take humans much longer to spot, but there are still plenty of things it can’t do.

on Creativity and intuiti

e A lot of maths tasks requir e creative thinking, lik coming formulating problems or ions for up with interesting quest maths to answer. problems AI is awesome at solving fined, but that have already been de tical many important mathema formulation of the m fro discoveries come ing that AI isn’t new problems – someth capable of on its own. nk critically and Teaching students to thi vely is a deeply approach problems creati teachers human skill. Good maths questions and encourage students to ask kling challenges. develop strategies for tac

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Working with others

Maths connects many dif ferent fields, such as physics, economics an d engineering. AI, though powerful, works best with specific tasks and data inputs, wh ile mathematicians underst and how maths interacts with other discip lines.

Maths teachers also use their people skills to read the room an d adjust their teaching methods accord ingly. Whether it’s using different exam ples or helping students who are falling behind, teachers can adapt in rea l time.

AI will definitely change how maths is taught. But you’ll still ne ed your maths teacher to foster creativit y, adapt to your learning needs and help you understand why maths is important.

– Charis Palmer

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MATHS & DATA

MATHS & DATA+SPORT

GET THE BALL ROLLING an amazing STEM career off k kic to ta da d an ths ma ine it with Live and breathe sport? Comb

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umbers are a huge part of sport. Data from matches and traini ng sessions gives coaching staff key info, like top speed, number of interacti ons and distance travelled – knowledge tha t can help them decide how to best utilis e athletes, improve match results or tailor tra ining sessions.

If you’re keen on mixing maths and data with sport, there are plenty of awesome study and career paths to jump on.

Maths&Data+ Sports stars Check out these STEM role models using maths and data in their sports gigs.

Dr Stephanie Kovalchik, senior manager of data science

In her 9-to-5, Stephanie uses maths processes like statistical modelling, g probability and machine learnin to quantify things like how an ect athlete’s physicality might aff their performance.

Read more: bit.ly/cws_ datascientist

You could be a sports statistician. These number crunchers gather real-time info on sports performances and use their maths and computer skills to create formulas, programs and apps that turn stats into new data.

Coaches and athletes then use that data to strategise about future games or competitions, and journalists and sports organisations use it to report on matches, and track performance.

Or, you could get into sports data analytics.

This field is all about interpreting data to gain insights that could assist with performance, player health and gameplay. In this role, you also get to analyse fan behaviour, including what merch they buy and social media trends!

Then there are sports scientists. They use biomechanics, psychology, biometrics and data to improve an athlete’s performance and help them recover from injuries by designing personalised training and rehabilitation programs. Sports scientists can work anywhere from sporting organisations and gyms, to health clinics and universities.

If these jobs sound interesting to you, then get inspired by the stories on the following pages, then start hatching your own game plan for your future career. – Louise Meers

Jake Ward, sports scientist

After initially studying business, Jake retrained and now has a career that’s taken him from the ds Olympics to the Queensland Re nd sla rugby team and the Queen Academy of Sport!

Read more: bit.ly/cws_ strengthcoach

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Dr Tuguy Esgin, t sports scientis

A PhD in exercise physiology and a Master of Business Administration have proved to be a formidable combination for Tuguy. His career has seen him tackle noncommunicable diseases in Indigenous health through exercise and sports science.

Read more: bit.ly/cws_ sportscientist

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START YOUR CAREER HERE

cameron’s top tip “Sport has taught me the value of consistency, adaptability and resiliency in high-pressure environments, whilst my degree in physics and mathematics has introduced me to critical problemsolving skills and a large toolbox of analytical approaches.”

MATHS&DATA + SPORT + STUDY Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science, Macquarie University Bachelor of Data Science, Deakin University

Mighty mathlete Meet Cameron McEvoy, the rei champion in the men’s 50m gning Olympic fre first Australian man to win a estyle, and the gold in this event.

You might’ve seen his face wh ile cheering on the Australian swim team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

But did you know that Came ron also studied maths and physics at uni? He’s bee n known to show off his love of STEM in the pool too . At the 2016 Olympic trials, he wore a swim cap dis playing the signal of two merging black holes, and a yea r earlier he donned one with a Feynman diagram.

What’s even cooler is that he uses maths to improve his sporting per forma nce. One way he’s done this is through per formin g tests, producing graphs and velocity profiles, then using his maths skills to compare them and improve his training program. By training more eff iciently, Cameron was able to significantly cut bac k how far he swam each week. Plus, he got to ditch the 5am starts every morning. Thanks, maths and data!

Bachelor of High Performance Sport, ACU Bachelor of Data Science, QUT Bachelor of Statistics, ANU

MATHS&DATA + SPORT + JOBS Sports statistician $99K–$174K Sports scientist $70K–$120K Data analyst $58K–$109K *Salaries according to salaryexpert.com, Exercise and Sports Science Australia, and payscale.com

Watch this

Check out the Numeracy In Sport series on ABC iview. It explores how maths is used in sports like sprinting, tenn is, basketball and football, and why it pays to be numerate! We love the real-life examples and demonstrations in these five-minute episodes.

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MATHS & DATA

MATHS & DATA+SPORT

Maths racer

petra kells Year 12 student

Petra Kells is on track for a math-led future

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t from Mparntwe etra isn’t just a Year 12 studen of nature – especially (Alice Springs), she’s a force cars and racing. when it comes to her love of life. Both my parents race “It’s been in my blood all my ay for the past six odd off-road and I’ve raced speedw years,” she says. ject at school – her Maths is Petra’s favourite sub win the Indigenous Science passion for it even led her to s University. Now, she’s Achievement Award at Flinder is involved in racing cars. learning just how much maths Cer tificate II in Petra recently completed a a training work placement did Automotive, for which she ar team. with the V8 CoolDrive superc s she got to experience In her cer tificate, Petra say mechanical engineer,” as what it felt like “to be a real at all the components and she pulled cars apart, looked in. put them back together aga

Petra would also measure and analyse her lap times from new race meetings and previous race meetings.

“I’d compare the two and see where I’d improved. It could be by one-point-something seconds,” she says.

In racing, you also need maths skills to monitor fuel consumption. This can vary a lot depending on how you drive and how many kilometres the race is. “My tank usually takes up a whole race meet,” Petra says.

Initially, Petra wanted to be an engineer with the supercar team but now she plans to explore her engineering options through the Australian Defence Force Gap Year. This cool program will allow her to try out different areas of engineering while getting paid, without any long-term commitment!

Her tip for anyone wanting to balance studying a VET course while in high school?

“Look for advice from your teachers. They took into consideration that I was only in school four days a week and would give me extensions, or occasionally sit with me during lunchtime or recess.” – Samantha Wheeler

racing has been in my blood all my life. i’ve raced for six odd years”

Certificate II in Automotive

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

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Placement with V8 supercars

DR Emma Millett Biomechanist

National lead of biomechanics, Australian Athletics

its athletes push their lim p to s lp he t et ll Mi Dr Emma her job looks like!

Here’s what a day at

MATHS & DATA+SPORT

e c n a m r o f r e p k a e P

9am – Trackside training

Bachelor of Exercise Science (Hons), Australian Catholic University

PhD in Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University

Senior sport biomechanist, NSW Institute of Sport

“I start the day at the track working with one of our key squads and coa ches here at NSWIS,” says Emma. “That often involves testing and feedback using laser, Optojump and video to assess and monitor an athlete’s technique.”

Optojump is a sensor system that tracks things like jump height and ground contact time – details too quick to cat ch with the naked eye. These tools help Emma and the coaching team fine-tune an athlete’s movements to improve their per formance.

10am – Data deep dive

“Then it’s back to the office to do some number crunching and review from the session, lab testing or from a competition I had travelled to on the weeke nd.”

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anist at mma is a senior biomech the NSW Institute of Sport l lead of (NSWIS) and the nationa an Athletics. biomechanics for Australi top track She works with Australia’s m the lp and field athletes to he data and ing perform at their peak. Us es move let video, she studies how ath une every and helps coaches fine-t step, jump and throw. is an “High-performance sport ults, but res the see ly iceberg – you on d the there’s a huge team behin a Chilton mm scenes,” she says. – Ge

1pm – Team check-ins

“A coach or per formance tea m member – physio, strength and conditi oning coach, or sports psych – will often stop by my desk to chat through report s, key thoughts and feedback, and then plan for the next session.”

4pm – Tech and innovation

In the late arvo, Emma will con nect with others on key projects. “On e we are working on at the moment is with our engineering lead at Australian Athletics, where we are working on pro sthetic blade or wheelchair adjustments.”

6pm – Packing for adventur e

Emma’s work takes her across Australia and overseas. “The day will often wrap up with packing for either anothe r training session, national camp, com petition or trip,” she says.

STUDY Sport and exercise science at ACU 15

MATHS & DATA

MATHS & DATA+TRANSPORT

y a w r u o y d Fin

ces shape a career that’s going pla to ts igh ins ta da d an s thm ori Use powerful alg

M

ore than a billion people use Google Maps every month for everything from navigating rush hour to finding the fastest bus route. We’ve all used some form of navigation system to help us get where we need to go. Now what if I told you that maths and data are the secret ingredients in how navigation systems like Google Maps work?

Modern navigation systems rely on large amounts of data including road maps, real-time traffic information, speed limits and even business locations. Data scientists work tirelessly to collect this information and write algorithms that will figure out your best route, or give you real-time traffic

Did you know

?

The Austral ia n govern ment wi ll invest more than $120 bil lion in la nd-based tra ns port projects across Austral ia over the next 10 years. Mo re money means more jobs, so there’s never been a bette r time to start a career in tra nsport.

updates. That’s just one of the many careers open to you if you apply your maths and data skills to the transpo rt world.

Think about it: Who make s the bus routes? Who develops the machine learning models that predict traffic jams? Data analysts! How do parcels get delivered to your door? Logistics analy sts do just that!

These in-demand profes sionals will shape the future of how we tra nsport things – not just ourselves, but our foo d, clothes and services too.

A strong foundation in ma ths, data and computer science can op en doors across Australia’s transportatio n sector. Ready to start your route? – Sama ntha Wheeler

Skills you need if you want to become a data analyst • Logical and critical thinking • Communication SHUTTERSTOCK

• Problem-solving

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

•T ime management

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START YOUR CAREER HERE MATHS&DATA + TRANSPORT + STUDY Bachelor of Data Science, QUT

Fun fact

Did you know Go ogle Maps was made in Austral ia? Da nish brothe rs Lars and Jens Ra smussen develop ed the platform for Google Maps in Sydney, then fou nded W he re 2 Tech nolog ies with Austral ia ns Neil Gordon and Stephen Ma in 2003.

Google boug ht th eir compan y the fol low in g ye ar.

Bachelor of Science (Data Science), Curtin University Bachelor of Planning, Macquarie University Bachelor of Mathematics (Data Science), University of South Australia Graduate Certificate in Smart Transport and Mobility, QUT

Packages on the mov e The National Freight Data Hu b closely with industry and go works vernment, collecting and analysing the tra bulk supplies. The team finds nsport of ga opportunities to ensure all the ps and need gets delivered to the rig stuff we ht the right time. Below are som place, at e projects they currently have of the on the go.

FREIGHT DATA CATALOGU E

Provides massive amounts of data on how and where things are shippe d to help businesses, governments and even scientists with their research.

MATHS&DATA + TRANSPORT + JOBS Operations analyst $57K–$96K Logistics analyst $62K–$97K Data scientist $69K–$137K Transport planner $64K–$139K *Salaries according to payscale.com

ROAD DATA

Focuses on all roads across Australia, getting agencies to share the road conditions. This could be blo cked or damaged roads, traffic jams and any oth er issues that may need to be addressed.

TRUCK MOVEMENT DATA

Tracks every truck across Au stralia to help us understand traffic jams, pla n better roads and help our truck drivers get wh ere they need to go as quickly and as safely as pos sible.

RAIL DATA

Keeps track of all our trains, from where they are, to how fast they go, how much they can carry and where each train sta rts and finishes.

This database is used to pla n better train tracks, ensure trains run on time and resolve issues.

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MATHS & DATA

MATHS & DATA+TRANSPORT

a t a D & s h t a M , n io t a t s Next ‘M’ in STEM is Check out some of the ways the

used in train transportation!

Graphs

Very helpful when creating railway system maps!

Algorithms

Are part of all transpor t apps.

They help find the best or fastest route to take and predict travel times using real-time data.

Geometry

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Used to design trains and track alignments.

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

Weight

The measurement used to calculate how s. heav y a train is and the capacity of the track

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MATHS & DATA+TRANSPORT

Measurements

Are needed when designing and creating signs for around the train station. The sizing and spacing of the letters are also important here .

Data analytics

Calculus

r By analysing train travel data like passenge of day time g udin (incl demographics, travel patterns train ils, deta on inati and distance), and origin and dest ds. perio fares can be set for peak and off-peak

Allows mechanical engineers designing and maintaining trains to calculate velocity, acceleration and displacement of objects (a.k.a. change in position of objects). This is key to understanding and predicting how a train’s mechanical system will behave when it’s making trips up and down the line.

Speed calculations

How fast a train travels is one of the factors considered when making train timetables. The leng th of the train and its stopping patterns (when it stops and for how long) are other important elements.

train games Mathematical optimisation

Live in Sydney and catch the train?

Next time you’re on board, look for the carriage number. Use these four numbers to try to make a total of 10.

You can add, subtract, multiply and divide to get your answer. Have fun!

This combines maths and computer softw are, helping railway operators to decide what train to use and what kind of drivers are needed to oper ate them. It can also be used to work out how to get the most out of fuel and energy. – Louise Mee rs

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MATHS & DATA

MATHS & DATA+ENVIRONMENT

s r e b m u n h t i w l Natura d data unts by skilling up in maths an co t tha gig o ec an lf se ur yo Land

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m like aths and nature might see ely lik un an odd match, but the reer ca a pair go way back. Name ces an ch and in environmental science to sed skill go are there’s a numbers-ba onist? with it! Land conservati ist? log Statistics! Marine bio mate Cli !

Differential equations ! scientist? Data analysis ting that And with Deloitte predic ditional more than 300 million ad be created by ‘green collar’ jobs could ntal scientists, 2050 (think: environme and data climate change analysts of finding ity bil scientists) the proba high. tty pre a gig that suits you is

Do the maths

Maths&data skills

Wildlife ecologist Conservationist

Data scientist

Climate scientist

Marine biologist Meteorologist

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A love of nature and conservation

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

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START YOUR CAREER HERE

Model behaviour

Protecting our environme nt requires a deep understanding of differ ent species – and not jus t their biolog y. Up there wi th one of the most valua ble maths-heav y tools is ma thematical modelling – the process of making databacked predictions to na vigate some of the world ’s most pressing ecological proble ms.

Climate change models allow scientists to study environmental phenom ena (both natural and hu mancaused) and plan for fut ure climate-related chall en ges.

Dynamic modelling, me anwhile, helps us underst and ecological population gro wth and how different sp ecies might respond to challen ging conditions.

And if you’re worried ab out finding a job, don’t be !

A quick search of in-dema nd maths and environme nt job titles – like environme ntal statistician, renewab le energ y analyst and envir onmental engineer – pro ves that all the cool kids (read : employers) are hiring.

CSIRO is crying out for maths grads to map forest s, urban areas and marine environments, while the Bureau of Meteorolog y is hiring meteorologists to study weather patterns and cli mate data. You could even work in a zoo as a wildlife ecologist, collecting and analysing data and running statis tical modelling programs to protect endangered or vulnerable species.

MATHS&DATA+ ENVIRONMENT + STUDY Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental and Climate Solutions), The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Environmental Management, UNSW Bachelor of Environment and Sustainability, ANU Bachelor of Mathematics / Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland

MATHS&DATA+ ENVIRONMENT + JOBS Data scientist $69K–$137K Environmental scientist $60K–$99K

Major plus

d Kickstarting a maths an ay thw pa environment isn’t exactly as easy as pi.

At school, you’ll need to knuckle down in maths and digital technologies, and basic biolog y knowledge will beef up your CV. But don’t stress -unit about being top of three n and tio ica un maths – if comm y’re the , ng thi English are your important too. are as At university, pathways ing! You could hir rs varied as the employe degree and take ce en do an environmental sci r of ths, or pursue a Bachelo units in ecolog y and ma forget n’t data science. And do Mathematics majoring in as lom s – there are plenty of dip about non-uni pathway from. and certificates to choose ing, perience while still study ex get to If you’re itching and t! Counting local wildlife become a citizen scientis to ys wa at gre er patterns are monitoring nearby weath el Ste e ta for good. – Cassi start collecting green da

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Statistician $63K–$102K *Salaries according to payscale.com

MATHS & DATA

MATHS & DATA+ENVIRONMENT

Figuring out la u m r o f s ’ e r u t a n , even in nature!

Maths is everywhere solve Earth’s wildest mysteries?

How can we use it to

data, nature and pen if you combined maths, ver wondered what would hap ective of the natural det a – matical ecologist the ma a get ’d You s? lme Ho solutions to Sherlock bers and patterns to help find num use ists log eco l tica ma world! Mathe . ssing conser vation problems some of the world’s most pre dels to study the mo and tics ma applied mathe Mathematical ecolog y uses interactions. By collecting l populations, life cycles and ma ani ing lud inc nt, me iron env identif y patterns, predict mathematical ecologists can it, ing lys ana and ure nat in data you love wildlife, for threatened species. So if ns utio sol h wit up e com and atchpole changes eer for you! – Saskia Horgan-C car the be ld cou y log eco l mathematica

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Statistics sleuths

Statistical analysts interpret data to understand complex problems. Data can range from pollution levels to animal sightings, revealing patterns that could have gone unnoticed.

Eco research rulers

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Model masters

A mathematical model is a real-life situation expressed as a series of mathematical equations.

Mathematical ecologists input components such as duration of ice melting, animal migration times, population loss and climate change to better understand ecosystems and the challenges they face.

Careers using mathematical models Climate change researcher: Predict how global warming will affect ecosystems.

Statistician: Use models to predict changes in populations and understand threats.

Eco-game developer: Create games that simulate ecological models in a realistic and entertaining way.

Researchers observe nature , collect information, and then either analyse it themselves or pass it along to a statistician or mathematica l modeller.

Careers in environmental research Forest ranger: Survey the health of forests to monitor deforestation and species changes.

Conservation scientist: Use field data to protect species.

University researcher / professor: Combine fieldwork and data analysis to teach the next generation of mathematical ecologists.

Careers in statistical analysis Epidemiologist: Use data to predict disease outbreaks and changes in ecosystems.

Remote sensing specialist: Observe forests, oceans and animal habitats using satellite and drone data.

Environmental policy analyst: Use statistics to advise governments on environmental laws and policies.

Hear from a real mathematical ecologist

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dr Michael Bode

ichael develops mathematical tools to protect threatened species and ecosystems. His work supports conservation decisions by helping governments and non-government organisations apply the methods he develops.

“Lots of species are threatened with extinction – too many for us to save them all – so we need to work out which actions we can afford to do, and which species we can afford to save,” Michael says.

The best part of Michael’s job? Knowing his work is having a positive impact on wildlife and the planet.

Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) (Honours), James Cook University Postdoctoral researcher, The University of Melbourne

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

Mathematics professo r

Michael’s advice for future ecologists “If you like working with numbers, you’ll be invaluable. Conservation is full of people who want to touch the animals – it’s missing people who want to count them!”

Secondary mathematics teacher, Blantyre, Malawi

PhD in mathematics, The University of Queensland

Future fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University

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Mathematics professor, QUT

arborist

Harry Roberts is proof that STEM careers can grow from any age – he kicked off his arboriculture apprenticeship at 27!

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school he had hen Harry finished high to do! But no idea what he wanted ture-age ma having completed his III ficate in apprenticeship and a Certi ds his own Arboriculture, he now lea ane City Council. arboriculture team at Brisb , Harry did bridge Before his apprenticeship ance. It was through inspections and mainten d he enjoyed working this job that he first realise few different things, he at heights. After trying a III in Arboriculture learnt about the Certificate and the apprenticeship. ts and working with “I liked working at heigh to be in an office all people, but I didn’t want it a try,” Harry says. day, so I thought I’d give be the first area that Arboriculture might not u think of maths springs to mind when yo maths all the time! It careers, but arborists use wood’s weight (which is helps them estimate the s), as well as the weight different for every specie ging point can take. load the equipment and rig shaping tree crowns Plus, there’s geometry in e’s branches spread.

– the area over which a tre

“It’s not just about shaping a tree to suit your needs. It’s about learning how to correctly prune a tree to its biology,” Harry says.

Harry’s job also involves understanding the relationship between an imals and trees so he can create or maintain an imal habitats.

“This means not cutting down dead trees that provide habitat for differ ent critters, creepy crawlies and birds,” he say s.

According to Harry, there are lots of emerging fields in arboriculture rig ht now, including a new stream for habitat workers.

“This involves using climb ing techniques and elevated platforms to hang nest boxes and create artificial hollows in trees! ” – Samantha Wheeler

i liked working at , le heights and with peop ” so i thought i’d try it

Certificate III in Arboriculture, Interlink Training Aboriculture team leader, Brisbane City Council

MATHS & DATA+ENVIRONMENT: NATIONAL CAREERS INSTITUTE

THE TREE WHISPERER

harry roberts

Team member, Brisbane City Council

2024 Harry Hauenschild Queensland Apprentice of the Year and Australian Training Awards Finalist

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MATHS & DATA

MATHS & DATA+HEALTH

a t a d + s h t a How m r u o y e p a h s can r e e r a c h t l a he

Solve health mysteries to help keep Australia healthy

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doctor, you very time you see your toms such likely list a bunch of symp hes or as tummy aches, headac note down ll wi r a new rash. Your docto ents and atm all of your symptoms, tre ase. If tab da a history, adding them to ur own yo s ate you don’t opt out, this cre ord h rec , which personal electronic healt er 23 million Medicare maintains. Ov l health record, Australians have a digita out more than and this collection is ab

just information storage – it helps unlock hidden patterns across the health sector.

Teams of health data sci entists can collect and analyse huge amounts of data such as age, gender, weight and any history of disease. This data can make health systems more eff icient, and it helps doctors make better decis ions when it comes to your health.

Epidemiologists are disea se specialists who use this data to colle ct statistics on health trends across Australia, such

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New genomics for Aus tr

CAREERSwithSTEM.com

alia

Genomics is the study of all of our genes, and it’s a fast-g rowing field. It’s so important that Au stralia has committed to establishing a national genom ics body, Genomics Australia , as well as $30 million of fundin g for its first four years of op era tion.

This initiative focuses on gen omic research to prevent dis ease and provide personalised tre atments for patients.

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START YOUR CAREER HERE

Biomath code cracker

MATHS&DATA + HEALTH + STUDY

Dr Natalie A. Twine uncovers secrets in our genetic code using data science and statistics

identifying genes is like finding a needle in a haystack”

admissions or as increases in hospital . By looking for ns tio decreases in vaccina s and statistics, recurring patterns, trend mine changes epidemiologists can deter level. They’ll in sickness at a population signs, and in detect the early warning vent what could doing so can help to pre h apocaly pse’ by otherwise become a ‘healt ts. using data-driven insigh alth mysteries he ve If you’re keen to sol us on with data, but want to foc might be for cs individuals, bioinformati

Senior research scientist, CSIRO

Postdoctoral fellow in big data bioinforma tics, CSIRO

PhD in bioinformatic s, UNSW

Genomics researcher

Bachelor of Science lecular Biolog (Honours), Univers(Mo ity of Cape Town y)

Dr Natalie A. Twine

Master of Bioinforma tics, University of London

Bioinformatician, King’s College London

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atalie is a senior research scientist and team lead with CSIRO, where she dives into the intricate world of bioinformatics. She uses biology, statistics and computer science to unveil information in our genomes. This helps us understand the genetic causes of human diseases like cardiovascular disease, motor neurone disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Natalie started her career with an undergrad degree in biochemistry and microbiology, but she soon realised lab work wasn’t for her.

“I found computers were more predictable; if you write a program, they generally work.”

After graduating, Natalie was awarded a scholarship to do a master’s of bioinformatics in London. She later moved to Sydney thinking she’d only be there for a year, but ended up completing a PhD in bioinformatics at UNSW. She’s now been in the city for 16 years!

In her current role, Natalie spends a lot of her time sifting through large amounts of data.

“Identifying which genes are causing disease is like finding a needle in a haystack, so you need to use high-powered computers, statistics and machine learning to find this needle.”

Bachelor of Data Science, QUT Bachelor of Health Sciences / Bachelor of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, The University of Adelaide Master of Science (Bioinformatics), The University of Melbourne Graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics, The University of Queensland

MATHS&DATA + HEALTH + JOBS Biostatistician $77K–$118K Epidemiologist $67K–$116K Data scientist $69K–$137K Bioinformatician $50K–$98K *Salaries sourced from payscale.com

you! As a bioinformatician, you could spot patterns in molecular and genetic data, like DNA or protein sequences. Combine those skills with computer science, algorithms and stats, and you might even be on your way to providing personalised healthcare, like cancer treatments tailored to specific gene mutations.

And guess what? Australia is investing billions into Medicare to make it even stronger. More money means more doctors, epidemiologists, bioinformaticians and data scientists! – Samantha Wheeler

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MATHS & DATA

MATHS & DATA+BUSINESS

MARKET VALUE Sharpen your data skills and you’ll find it pays to get into business

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orget what you’ve seen in the movies because there’s more to a job in business than rocking a fancy suit. Sure, it can be stressful, but a business career can be seriously rewarding – and a chance for maths and data grads to make a real difference.

Numbers game

START YOUR CAREER HERE MATHS&DATA + BUSINESS + STUDY Bachelor of Science (Mathematics), Macquarie University Bachelor of Mathematics, Western Sydney University Bachelor of Commerce, The University of Melbourne

– and economy – go Business makes the world of high-powered business round. There are plenty m d data professionals, fro jobs for skilled maths an t, to finance and working in managemen hip, information accounting, entrepreneurs ding in financial markets. technology and even tra th majors in supporting There’s also a stack of ma l officer, market dealer, roles, like chief financia rt ker, cyber security expe share advisor, crypto bro and data analyst. keen on making a buck And the best bit for those ng maths and data with in business? By combini door to high-paying business, you’ll open the

Bachelor of Finance, University of South Australia Diploma of Business, TAFE NSW

MATHS&DATA + BUSINESS + JOBS Security analyst $59K–$110K Stockbroker $52K–$160K Chief financial officer $106K–$250K

positions like investment banker, hedge fund manager, and private eq uity and actuarial roles.

If you’re a confident pro blem-solver and can see yourself tackling complex probability equations all day, every day, this is a reliable industry to craft a career in.

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Show me the money

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Although jobs are secure , business pathways can be as non-linear and all-ov er-the-place as the stock market! If cryptocurrenc y is your jam you could do a business degree and fill it out with blockchain, investment and data-he avy units. Or, doing a straight-up Bachelor of Mathematics will skill you up in all the things (Stats! Graphs! Data!

Probability!), so you can pick and choose an area to specialise in. It’s worth looking into business courses at TAFE too.

Already dreaming of job s? Check out investment groups IMC Trading and Optiver if you want to work with cool clients. – Cassie Steel

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*Salaries sourced from payscale.com

every day is different and i get to work across many areas”

ile project coordinator

Hugh’s advice for young people “Degrees and qualifications will get you interviews, but sof skills are becoming increasinglyt important, even in technical jobs. Public speaking, attention to detail and problem-solving are half the difference between junior and senior engineers.”

“Every project is different, and I get to work across so many areas of IT. One day it’s cybersecurity, the next it’s optimising business managem ent systems,” he says.

One of Hugh’s coolest projec ts involved ethical hacking – yes, hacking! During COVID , he led a project designing Raspberry Pi kits that allowe d penetration testers to remotely test systems for sec urity vulnerabilities.

“I remember looking at it at the end and thinking, ‘wow, my job is awesome!’”

When he’s not managing pro jects? Hugh is a selfconfessed adrenaline junkie , scaling mountains and abseiling into canyons. – Sas kia Horgan-Catchpole

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Delegate to the World Sco Youth Forum, Scouts Austraut lia

hugh crawford ag

Bachelor of Advanced Science, Macquarie University

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S

rsity led Hugh down tudying at Macquarie Unive puting and IT a path exploring maths, com ding him a job as an infrastructure, ultimately lan this role, he keeps a team of Agile project coordinator. In g businesses navigate the 20 engineers on track, helpin ructure. With dozens of complex world of cloud infrast at once, he never clients and projects on the go gets bored! a Bachelor of Hugh’s journey started with arie Advanced Science at Macqu offered early s wa he ich wh for University, Leaders entry through the Macquarie loved and Achievers program. He ts jec sub nt exploring the differe in or min a Macquarie offered – t sparked computer science is what firs e. tur his interest in IT infrastruc of Macquarie’s Hugh was involved in many luding the Maths extracurricular offerings, inc developed his project Society. It was here that he his peers tell him how great management skills – having sealed the deal! he’d be as a project manager rdinator with a Cloud Now, as an Agile project coo ineering team) at AC3 DevOps team (software eng ced Computing and (Australian Centre for Advan heart of the action. the Communication), Hugh is at

Project manager, Content Security

State commissioner, NSW Rover Scouts

Hugh Crawford has turned maths, science and computing into a career managing IT cloud infrastructure projects

MATHS & DATA+BUSINESS: MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY

Agile project coordinator, AC3

From maths to managing the cloud

MATHS & DATA

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NEXT STEPS

Sine up for a er maths&data care thway while still at school Here’s how to kickstart your pa

read The Maths That Made Us, Michael Brooks Dive into how numbers have enabled explorers to travel across the seas and astronomers to map the skies. Learn how they’ve won wars and halted epidemics, and discover how they contribute to everythin g from the design of your house to the smartphone in your pocket .

Love Triangle: The Lifechanging Magic of Trigonometry, Matt Parke r Why can no two people ever see the same rainbow? What happens when you pull a pop song apart into pure sine wa ves and play it back on a piano? The answer to each of these questions and more can be found in the triangle.

Electives checklist

Want to work in da ta?

These high school su bjects will help get you th ere: ✔ Maths ✔ Computin g studies ✔ Engineering studie s ✔ Business studies ✔ Econom ics

Careers with STEM: Science 2025 is a publication and trademark of Refraction Media. Copyright © 2025 Refraction Media, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner or form without written permission. If you would like to reproduce anything from this magazine, email: info@refractionmedia.com.au.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

This issue went to press on 14 April 2025.

Printed in Australia by IVE.

Cover image: AAP Image/Dave Hunt Produced and published by: Refraction Media Co-founder, CEO & Publisher: Karen Taylor-Brown Partnerships Manager: Rachel Jones Managing Editor: Charis Palmer and Jasmine Fellows Deputy Editor: Louise Meers Editorial Coordinator: Samantha Wheeler

watch

Sub Editor: Amelia Caddy

Hidden Figures, Netflix of This movie tells the true story n rica me n-A ica Afr ible three incred its in SA NA at d rke women who wo y use early years. Watch them as the ies needed for safe tor jec tra ht maths to calculate flig th. re-entry and for orbiting Ear y, SBS On Demand The Man Who Knew Infinit thematician, Srinivasa Follow self-taught Indian ma e to attend Trinity College Ramanujan as he leaves hom must fight to prove his in England in 1931. Here, he groundbreaking theories.

Art Director: Katherine Power Writers: Amy Briggs, Saskia Horgan-Catchpole, Louise Meers, Charis Palmer, Cassie Steel, Samantha Wheeler

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tical Olympiad The International Mathema ionship mathematics comp Get ready for the world champ ich will be held on the for high school students, wh July, 2025. We can’t wait to Sunshine Coast from 10–20 from around the world see the brightest young minds blem-solving battle it out with their epic pro 25.au 20 skills! Find out more at: imo

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Listen The Random Sample Find out how maths, data science and statistics can help make sense of a world full of uncertainty and randomness! In this podcast, you’ll hear about the impact that maths and data professionals are making.

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