Improving laboratory learning

It has been most encouraging to see science (and innovation)at the forefront of Australian domestic politics in recentmonths. It is also reassuring to see broader bipartisanagreement from the major political parties on the importance ofscience and research to the nation’s future. Governments maychoose to prioritise the areas of scientific endeavour thatwarrant greater support but the acknowledgement by ourpolitical leaders (federal and state) that science and innovationis vital for the nation’s future has not always been forthcoming.The funding mechanisms (e.g. grant schemes) and businessincentives (e.g. taxation) put in place by governments areimportant catalysts of ideally spontaneous processes leading toinnovation and economic advances. However, this pathway isvery complicated.