Australia may not have the science capability required to meet the challenges of future generations, according to a report by the Australian Academy of Science. The report, titled Australian Science, Australia’s Future: Science 2035, is the country’s first attempt to understand its science capability against the demands of a rapidly changing world.
“This analysis seeks to answer a fundamental question,” it said. “Does Australia have the science capability and the capacity that it needs to meet the challenges faced by the coming generations?”
The academy’s position is unequivocal: without strong sovereign science capability, Australia may not be able to effectively control its own destiny. The report warns that unless urgent action is taken now, the nation will be unprepared for the economic, environmental, technological, and demographic shifts projected to reshape the world by 2060.
A future worth fighting for
The academy makes a powerful ethical case for immediate action, stating that “today’s Australians owe future generations a quality of life with security, and social and economic prosperity and cohesion that is the envy of the world”.
Achieving that vision depends on careful, strategic investment in scientific education, research, training, and workforce planning, it said.
“Time, patience and careful development of policies will get us there,” the academy asserted. “Muddling along mixed with hope and exhortation will not.”
Why science capability matters
The report makes clear that sovereign science is not optional — it is essential to Australia’s national resilience, economic competitiveness, national security, and social wellbeing.
“Without science capability, Australia will not effectively control its own destiny in a rapidly changing world,” it said.
Sovereign science enables nations to create the products, services, knowledge, and innovation that underpin everything from health and defence to climate response and advanced manufacturing. Without it, Australia becomes a consumer of global change rather than a driver of it.
The Science 2035 report is a systematic assessment of Australia's national science strengths and gaps in relation to future challenges.
To guide the analysis, the academy aligned its work with the Australian Government’s Intergenerational Report 2023, which outlines the expected pressures and transformations facing the country to 2063, and the National Reconstruction Fund, which prioritises critical sectors for national resilience and competitiveness.
A search for gaps in capability without a clear target would be like taking a seat on the first passing bus because it’s a bus — not knowing where it’s going until you arrive, it said.
The analysis focused on three grand challenge areas – technological transformation, demographic change, climate change, decarbonisation, and environment. These were assessed through the lens of two broader themes: national resilience and science literacy.
The academy identified eight science capability areas where demand will surge by 2035: agricultural science, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, climate science, data science, epidemiology, geoscience, and materials science.
However, across all eight, Australia is falling short. The report identifies misalignments between workforce supply and national needs, raising serious questions about future readiness.
For example:
Geoscientists are in short supply, despite Australia’s dependence on mineral resources and a national focus on ‘Critical Minerals’.
The AI workforce is severely lacking, with only 25% of year 12 students studying mathematics — a core skill for the field.
Shortages in materials science, and a declining workforce in process and resource engineering.
University enrolments and workforce development are not aligned with national goals, creating gaps that could take a decade or more to fill.
What needs to be done by 2035
The academy calls for a major shift in how Australia nurtures scientific talent, starting in school and extending into lifelong learning.
“Australia needs to build that reservoir of talent in our people,” the report stated.
This includes the following:
A modern education and training system that is fit for contemporary purpose
Stronger support for teachers, trainers, and academics through ongoing professional development and resourcing
Clearer and more flexible reskilling pathways for career changes and emerging workforce needs
Improved alignment between student subject choices and future skills demands
Smarter integration of international students and skilled migrants into the science workforce
According to the Academy, 2035 is the tipping point. That’s the year by which Australia must have functioning systems in place to develop and sustain science capability across the board.
“It will take close to 10 years to get the policies, processes and incentives in the right place and functioning well,” the report warned. “If we have not built systems over the next 10 years that allow us to generate sustained momentum in the areas that matter to Australia, it will be too late,” it added.
The report urges government, industry, and education sectors to work together now to:
Invest in targeted capability building
Modernise STEM curricula and teacher training
Create real incentives for students to pursue science pathways
Develop national strategies for workforce planning
Ensure that policy decisions are data-informed and future-focused
“If we have these systems in place by 2035, we can build the capacity Australia needs to provide its people with an enviable quality of life while contributing as a responsible global citizen,” it said.
“It’s time to change — this time.”