Victorian universities have launched a multi-million-dollar program to combat the decline in take-up rates of science, technology and maths-related courses, amid fears Australia could suffer a scientific brain drain.

The three-year, $3 million program spearheaded by Deakin University, in collaboration with Melbourne, Monash and La Trobe universities, will develop new teacher education practices aimed at encouraging more students to take the subjects.

At primary and early secondary level, there are concerns over the quality of education, with many non-science teachers having to teach out of their field of specialty.

But the greater concern is significant attrition rates for secondary and tertiary students taking on science, technology, engineering and maths courses.

"At a time when we are going through this very dynamic period, our participation at a tertiary level in science, technology, engineering, maths [is] dropping off and that is definitely a concern," Victoria's lead scientist Leonie Walsh said.

"Part of the reason students don't take it up is they think it will be too challenging, they don't think they will have the skills or capability, there are some concerns about what those types of opportunities are."

In the past two decades, the number of secondary students going on to study science-related disciplines has gone from about 75 per cent to just 50 per cent, despite three-quarters of today's careers requiring those capabilities.

Geelong on the 'cutting edge' of scientific research

Russell Tytler, a professor of science education at Deakin, said the new program would investigate how to bring science into the classroom.

It will also invite researchers into the classroom to develop interactive computer programs that teach about aspects of the curriculum.

"Students introduced to science and maths early, in an engaging way, are more likely to continue those subjects through to VCE," Professor Tytler said.

"This will make them far more employable in the future."

Following widespread job losses in the manufacturing sector, Geelong is pushing to be a leader in biomedical research and advanced manufacturing.

"Fewer and fewer Year 12 students are taking science subjects. It's vital that we reverse this trend," Geelong Mayor Darryn Lyons said.

"I am very pleased that Deakin is spearheading a program to boost the uptake of students taking science and maths.

"Some of the most cutting edge research in the world is being done in Geelong."

Australia needs a science minister: Barry Jones

Former federal science minister Barry Jones said he believed science and research in Australia had dropped off the political agenda and was in danger of being marginalised.

"The tragedy at the moment is that it's simply seen as being a cost, a kind of liability," Mr Jones said.

"It's an essential investment for the future."

Dr Jones said it was "a disgrace" the current Federal Government did not have a dedicated science minister.

"There's nobody who has got the whole issue of science and technology at the top of their heads and who sits around the cabinet table and says: 'Look, you've got to think of these important issues'," he said.

"I think you can guarantee that in the Victorian state election coming up, there won't be much talk about science.

"It's simply dropped off the political agenda and I think that's tragic."