CANBERRA, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- A new report reveals critical gaps in Australia's science capability that threaten the nation's future prosperity and ability to meet challenges by 2060.

The report, "Australian Science, Australia's Future: Science 2035" from the Australian Academy of Science, was launched Thursday at a national symposium hosted by the Academy in the capital Canberra.

It highlights eight key science areas projected to have capability gaps and be in high demand by 2035: agricultural science, artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, climate science, data science, epidemiology, geoscience, and materials science.

The report highlights the country's shortfalls in workforce, infrastructure, and coordination across the eight key scientific fields, critical to addressing Australia's future challenges and sustaining economic growth.

Prof. Ian Chubb, chair of the report's advisory panel, warned Australia faces a collapsing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills pipeline after decades of declining investment, undermining the country's sovereign capacity to innovate and respond to emerging challenges.

The report found only one in four Year 12 students studies mathematics, essential for AI, while shortages of geoscientists and materials scientists pose risks to critical sectors like resources and manufacturing.

The Academy calls for immediate action to align education and workforce development with future science needs to ensure Australia remains competitive and secure in a rapidly evolving global landscape shaped by technological transformation, demographic change, and climate challenges. ■