YOUNG Australian of the Year - and Engineering Student - Marita Cheng is looking forward to talking with Prime Minister Julia Gillard about how the government's education reforms can get young people interested in maths and science.
The 22-year-old university engineering student is dedicated to encouraging other girls to take up studies in the field, where women may up only 10 per cent cent of the workforce.
In 2008, she founded Robogals Global to teach girls at secondary schools about science and technology in fun ways.
"I think we just need to encourage kids just to stay in there and work over those hurdles and they'll be all the better for it."
A recent study commissioned by Australia's chief scientist Ian Chubb showed many students think maths, science and engineering subjects are boring and irrelevant to everyday life.