The “new” science specialists

A Victorian government initiative called The Primary Science Specialists Professional Learning Program is designed to tackle students' falling interest in science by investing in the building of teacher capacity. The aims of the initiative are: to improve the science knowledge base of all teachers and therefore increase teachers' capacity to engage students in their learning of science; to increase student interest, aspirations and participation in science and to raise the level of science achievement. The role of the "new" science specialist is not necessarily to teach science to all students, rather to promote science, organise the teaching programs and resources for teaching science and support other teachers in teaching science in their school. The results, to date, show that by creating the role of science specialists in primary schools, and investing in science as a specialised knowledge area, science can be promoted, science teaching resources better managed, and teachers who are not confident in science, mentored. In this way, the impact of promoting and improving the teaching of science can extend from the science specialists to other teachers, to students, the school and the wider community.