PICSE continues to expand.

*In 2012, discussions are well advanced with three new tertiary partners (University of Western

Sydney, SARDI Food Centre and Northern Melbourne Institute of Technology) with the outcomes being the establishment of a fourth Activity Centre in NSW and the first one in Victoria. In addition, a partnership has just been signed by two significant other investors in the PICSE program, Cotton RDC and Meat and Livestock Australia (RDC)

* PICSE continued to deliver the program in 10 Activity Centres in 2011, with 5 potential new universities (CSU-second centre, University of Ballarat, University of Sydney, CDU, JCU), ready to join the current university partners with signing-up depending upon Federal Government funding from HEPPP. Applications for HEPPP funding are expected to be open in July/August.

University and non-university organisations have given a commitment to invest or are interested in growing the PICSE program through to 2014 because:

* PICSE is not only an awareness program for science but, more importantly, is an experiential strategy that changes the aspirations, study and career directions of students in a sustainable way

* PICSE delivers innovative engagement programs for student and teachers making science relevant and exciting, hence encouraging students into tertiary science and careers in industry

* PICSE is a rigorously evaluated and long term program which is sufficiently flexible to deliver customised outcomes to each investor

* PICSE has a track record of attitudinal change and increased participation in science based primary industry pathways.

* New relationships and partners are critical for the ongoing development and longer-term sustainability of PICSE.

31 May 2012 Cotton CDC – Project Number 3.04.12 CRC1016 Page 1 of 6

2011/12 was a year of milestone events for PICSE. A selection of the highlights include:

* The formation of the PICSE National Advisory Board with eminent university leader and

internationally recognised agriculturist, Professor Alan Robson as Chair.

* A hugely successful mid-year Canberra forum. Titled “Positions Vacant: Young Scientists Wanted for

Future Food Security”, the event canvassed a range of views from industry, government, R&D’s, teachers, universities and students. The outcomes paper is attached as Appendix 1. National media coverage was extensive in both print and radio syndication.

* Two very important partnerships were formalised in 2011. These included a selection of joint projects between PICSE and Agrifood Skills Australia (AFSA), and the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA), who will deliver against joint objectives and further enhance collaboration and industry benefit.

* The very exciting development of the web-based version of the popular Science Investigation Awards (SIA). The new program called “Science for Growth” will build on the 2400 students from across Australia who participated in the SIAs in 2011 and allow more students and teachers (city, rural and remote) to be involved.

At the commencement of the PICSE Project, an independent measurement, evaluation and reporting company (QualDATA) was outsourced to establish an evaluation process to provide an annual synthesis of data which could be used to inform progress reports for DEEWR. Each year, every participant of every PICSE activity was surveyed to collect qualitative and quantitative data. This data is collated for each Activity Centre (linked with a University) and then combined into a national report covering the effectiveness of the process and impact of the program. In 2011, a comparison has been made between the 2009, 2010 and 2011 programs, in addition to comparing the effect of the program across all partner universities.