Our Swinburne node is based at the Centre for Transformative Innovation.
The team use Social Network Analysis to measure the flow of knowledge, including its impact on industry outcomes, aiming to identify technological pathways for firms, and talent pathways for individuals within the chemical industry-academia nexus.
Choosing a Career in STEM - a review of the literature, October 2021
Authors: Bopha Roden, Tom Spurling (FRACI), Dean Lusher, Greg Simpson (FRACI), Peng Wang, Aaron Gosling
Read the full article here.
Research conducted in many countries around the world has shown that there is a shortage of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) university graduates leading to a shortage in appropriately qualified people in the STEM workforce. This makes the recruitment of talented young STEM graduates an ongoing challenge for STEM organisations.
As society is becoming more and more reliant on complex technologies, these declining enrolments in STEM disciplines and a lack of interest in STEM careers are cause for alarm. In addition to a decline in enrolment, there are high attrition rates in STEM courses, which play a major role in this current situation.
The shortage of qualified STEM people in the workforce, and the shortage of qualified science teachers, has led to a critical shortage of STEM professionals. This situation creates a need for greater understanding of how STEM career paths evolve and develop (Tytler 2007).
Prof Dean Lusher
Dean Lusher leads the Social Network Analysis research of the ARC Training Centre - Chemical Industries
A Professor of Innovation Studies at Swinburne’s Centre for Transformative Innovation, Dean is a social network analyst with expertise in statistical models for social networks. His expertise is specifically in the theory and application of statistical models for social networks, with an applied focus on social and technological innovation, organisational culture and system resilience.
Dean is a Board Member of the International Network for Social Network Analysis (INSNA) and an editorial board member for the journal 'Social Networks'.
Dr Peng Wang
Dr Peng Wang is a network methodologist who specialises in the development of statistical models for social networks. Dr Peng Wang completed his PhD in 2013 from University of Melbourne, and worked there since 2004. His work focuses on the methodology and software development of exponential random graph models for social network analysis. Peng joined Swinburne in 2015.
Dr Bopha Roden
Bopha Roden is a social network researcher who specialises in the study of University-Industry collaboration. Bopha is also an experienced qualitative researcher and brings these skills to enrich her research into the relationships and social structures that form in collaborative networks.
Prof Thomas Spurling
Tom is a scientist with experience in managing the process of translating research into commercial products. His current research interests include the use of social network analysis in understanding how best to commercialise public sector research, the use of economic analysis to understand why some firms invest in innovation, and the use of case studies to tell the story of Australian innovation.