STEM Education
We work to prevent the harmful influence of the weapons industry.
Global Weapons Industry
There is no correlation between weapons proliferation and peace and security.
The proliferation of weapons is one of the greatest threats to peace and health in today’s world.
War, political instability and interference, disinformation, occupation, repression, coup, genocide, blockade, espionage, and military aggression are enabled by – and depend upon – the products of the arms trade, and cause harm to people.
Corruption
Researchers estimate that 40% of corruption in global transactions is linked to the arms trade. The arms trade operates behind the veil of ‘national security’, and is poorly regulated and managed.
Human Rights
- The arms can be used to carry out the abuse directly.
- The arms sales increase the military authority of governments and their ability to intimidate or abuse.
- A heavily armed government can help instil fear in a population, while building up a sense of a nation under threat, increasing support for the government.
- International arms sales convey a message of approval and acceptance by foreign governments.
Weapons Industry + STEM Education
In 2022, our researchers identified 35 STEM education programs associated with global weapons corporations including BAE Systems, Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin – a corporation that makes more revenue from warfare than any other weapons company in the world.
Some of the biggest, and most popular, Australian STEM education programs are branded by weapons companies. By branding STEM programs, the weapons industry seeks to influence children and society for commercial benefit.
Militarisation
Accepting a role for the weapons industry in schools contributes to the militarisation of our society – the belief that our political, economic, environmental and social issues can and should be resolved with military solutions.
Commercial interests
When the commercial interests of weapons companies – and not pedagogy – shape educational policy and practice, our society suffers. The growing influence of weapons companies, along with the Department of Defence, may also be driving a narrowing of the STEM education field at the expense of natural and physical sciences, and approaches like STEM for sustainable development.
Public Health
The intrusion of weapons companies into education is a public health issue. Just like other harmful industries – such as tobacco, junk food, and soft drink – the weapons industry dilutes its association with harmful products, uses sophisticated strategies to influence children, and obscures the damaging effects of its products and corporate conduct.
Minors + Missiles
MAPW has produced original research into the growing influence of multinational weapons companies over Australian STEM education.
Download the latest edition of our report Minors + Missiles.
News: STEM Education
Up in Arms: Inside the eight-year effort at UniMelb
The Citizen covers MAPW's long running efforts to kick weapons companies out of the University of Melbourne.
Read MoreTransparency? Melbourne University Disclosures on Weapons Links Stir More Questions
Student protestors forced UniMelb to disclose information - but is the picture complete?
Read MoreARENA Magazine: Class Warfare
ARENA mag carries Dr Jenny Ground's piece on weapons companies in Education.
Read MoreRaising Peace Podcast: Minors + Missiles
MAPW's Minors + Missiles report and work on militarisation of education features on the Raising Peace podcast.
Read MoreEducation unions oppose militarisation of STEM
The Australian Education Union (AEU) has reiterated its opposition to the militarisation of education through the participation of weapons companies in STEM education.
Read MoreNew Podcast: Get Your Armies Off Our Bodies!
MAPW's work on weapons company influence in STEM featured in a new podcast.
Read MoreCharity drops deal with weapons company
MAPW welcomes the Smith Family's decision to terminate deal with global weapons giant.
Read More