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It took a teacher to put CSIRO tragedy in a nutshell: Why would her students pursue science?

Ryan Winn Science and Technology Australia CEO November 19, 2025 — 8.00pm Advertisement

It was Paula Taylor who summed up the heartbreak of the CSIRO declaring it would have to sack 350 research staff . The news broke late on Tuesday. That night I received a message from Paula, the recipient of this year’s Prime Minister’s Prize for excellence in science teaching in primary schools. “How do I make a case for students to pursue science?” she asked me.

I wish I had an easy answer for her. But that remains one of my biggest concerns. Where will Australia find its future science leaders? Headlines about scientists at Australia’s national science agency losing t

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