NEWS campusreview . com . au
Lisa Harvey-Smith ( 3rd from left ) celebrates International Women ’ s Day . Photo : Nikki Davis-Jones
Evidence base
New approach to ensuring STEM incentives are paying off .
The federal government has poured millions into encouraging
more women to enter careers in science , technology , engineering and maths ( STEM ), but uncertainty remains about which – if any – of the programs are delivering results .
This is what astrophysicist Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith wants to begin measuring as “ a priority ” as the country ’ s Women in STEM ambassador .
Since 2015 , the federal government has committed roughly $ 17 million to encourage more women into education and the STEM sector , coupled with another $ 100 million in programs to improve Australians ’ skills in maths , science and technology .
Both of these initiatives were targeted at the school level , with the aim of improving science and maths education and establishing incentives for talented , enthusiastic students .
Until recently , the primary way of measuring how many women were entering STEM sectors traditionally dominated by men was through a census every five years . The data showed a grim picture : between 2006 and 2016 , the proportion of women employed in a STEM field rose by a negligible 2 per cent .
“ If we just spend money on things that we think might work and don ’ t measure that , then that ’ s not going to be a very good investment ,” Harvey-Smith told the Sydney Morning Herald .
“ So , what we ’ re doing now is focusing really on measurement , data , evidence – and that ’ s what I bring as a scientist to this – and then making sure that we ’ re funding things that work .”
A fresh way of measuring women ’ s participating in STEM was launched in March and provided more insightful , useable data on the current situation . For instance , it showed that far more men than women were studying STEM at university level ( 4:1 ), and less than a third of the current STEM workforce were women . Moreover , fewer than one in every five applications for a research grant were written by women .
As jobs in engineering , science and technology are “ widely acknowledged ” as the high growth industries of the future , Harvey- Smith said qualified women in these areas should be central to the government ’ s plans to create jobs during the pandemic recovery .
“ It ’ s important that women don ’ t just train in STEM degrees in universities and then have no job to go to ,” she said .
For women to thrive in the STEM sectors , Harvey-Smith argues for structural reforms in workplaces , including easier access to childcare , and providing women with research support during and after maternity leave . ■
Risk factor
Royal Melbourne Hospital COVID-19 wards . Photo : David Caird
British researchers design COVID death risk tool .
Dallas Bastian and AAP
British scientists have come up with a tool to help clinicians
predict the risk of death among patients hospitalised with COVID-19 .
The researchers said the score enables “ accurate stratification of patients ” with the virus and added it could “ guide clinician decisions , including treatment escalation ”.
Called the 4C ( Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium ) Mortality Score , the model uses data such as age , sex , underlying conditions , breathing and blood oxygen levels .
Study results showed it was able to more accurately predict risk than 15 comparable models , the researchers said , and it was also more useful in clinical decision-making .
“ This will prove important in helping guide doctors to optimally care for the sickest of patients ,” said Ewen Harrison , a professor of surgery and data science at Edinburgh University who co-led the research .
Using the various data input , the risk calculator gives scores ranging from 0 to 21 points , he said .
Patients with a score of 15 or more had a 62 per cent mortality risk compared with 1 per cent for those scoring 3 or lower .
The researchers said patients with a low 4C Mortality Score might not need to be admitted to hospital , while those in medium and higher risk groups could be expedited for more aggressive treatment , including steroid drugs and being admitted to critical care units if necessary . ■
6