PICSE is an industry / university / school partnership originating at the University of Tasmania and designed to stimulate student interest in studying science at university with a pathway into primary industries. The approach meets a growing industry need for science graduates.

It involves regional Activity Centres hosted by participating universities who are partnered by local industry. PICSE has a national coordination centre hosted by the University of Tasmania, Cradle Coast campus, called the Primary Industry Centre for Science Education (PICSE), involving Government and industry investors.

The idea underpinning PICSE originated in Tasmania and has now become a national program with activity centres based at six Australian universities in five states. Each activity centre has at least one Science Education Officer (SEO) who is responsible for running PICSE activities at that centre. Anna Paice is the SEO in Tasmania and runs the camps program, the teacher PD activities and the Science Investigation Awards. Anna is based in the School of Agricultural Science at UTAS in Hobart but travels the state connecting with schools, students, teachers and industry scientists.

Australia is currently experiencing a shortage of skilled science professionals to meet industry demand, particularly in those sectors in rural and regional Australia. Furthermore, in its Audit of Science, Engineering and Technology skills (June 2006), DEST predicts a 35% gap over the next five years between industry demand for science professionals and supply from education institutions. It takes six years to move a student from Year 11 through to graduation, so it is imperative to act immediately to address this gap.

Industry has expressed concern at this trend, at a time when the scientific and technical demands of primary industries are growing. PICSE will assist in maintaining Australia’s international competitive edge in the future.