Science and Technology Australia MEDIA RELEASE

10 June 2020

"Today our colleagues in the STEM community all around the world speak as one in support of equality, respect and justice – and we raise our voices with theirs.

In recent weeks, we have drawn hope from seeing so many people globally support the goals of the #BlackLivesMatter and #AboriginalLivesMatter movements to end racism, injustice and inequality.

The science, technology, engineering and maths workforce in Australia joins our colleagues worldwide in the STEM community to express our support for these defining values.

This movement has called attention not only to Indigenous deaths in custody in our country and abroad, but also to racism, exclusion, disrespect and a lack of safety for people of colour.

This historic moment offers all Australians an opportunity to ask ourselves and our leaders what more can and should be done to end inequality and injustice.

STA members Deadly Science and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance work daily to celebrate Indigenous excellence, create opportunity and tackle inequality.

We stand together to say there is no place for exclusion, inequality or injustice anywhere – including in the STEM community.

Throughout today, Science & Technology Australia will use our social media channels to highlight the sophisticated STEM expertise embedded in Indigenous knowledge systems across this country.

We invite members of our own communities across Australia to share this content, along with their own messages of hope, respect, dignity, and strong support for equality."

Joint statement from:

Science & Technology Australia President Associate Professor Jeremy Brownlie

Science & Technology Australia CEO Misha Schubert

Deadly Science founder Corey Tutt

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance Chair Professor Chris Matthews

Science & Technology Australia EDI committee co-chair Tanya Ha

Science & Technology Australia EDI committee co-chair Associate Professor Sumeet Walia

For media enquiries, contact STA on 02 6257 2891