Victoria Is The Place For Space

The Andrews Labor Government is stepping up its campaign for the Australian Space Agency – releasing the Victoria: The Place for Space proposal.

Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll today visited Opaque Media Group – one of the 250 Victorian companies involved in the space industry – to launch the proposal, which forms part of Victoria’s bid for the agency.

space inventor kit continue reading

Chief scientist’s term extended a further two years

The Australian Government has extended Dr Alan Finkel’s term as Australia’s Chief Scientist for a further two years to the end of 2020.

chief scientist continue reading

Swedish Strawbees wins Nordic Edtech Award

Strawbees from Sweden came out top when the best of Nordic edtech was on show at the Nordic Edtech Award at Oslo Innovation Week on Wednesday.

Five finalists, one from each of the Nordic countries, pitched for The Nordic Edtech Award 2018 at the at The Edtech Day at Oslo Innovation Week, All finalists represents the Nordic Edtech core values: Equality, Democracy, Quality, Motivational Learning and Efficiancy.

strawbees wins award

continue reading

Australia gets Women in STEM Ambassador in astrophysicist professor

Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith has been appointed as Australia’s first Women in STEM Ambassador.

The federal government has announced the appointment of Australia’s first Women in STEM Ambassador, with Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith charged with overseeing the country’s attempt to diversify its science, technology, engineering, and mathematics sectors.

Professor-Lisa-Harvey-Smith_900 continue reading

Budget 2018: Tech and science gets AU$2.4 Billion

The Australian Science and Technology Growth Program will push artificial intelligence, supercomputers, eSafety, women in STEM, intellectual property, space, and research and development

The Australian government’s 2018-19 Budget has earmarked a massive AU$2.4 billion for technology and science over the next 12 years in a bid to support “a stronger and smarter economy”.

Quirkbot-Race-wide_1200x630
continue reading

It’s time for schools to take engineering seriously

As the Morandi Bridge collapse in Genoa demonstrated, ageing infrastructure is an alarming problem facing the developed world.

engineering with strawbees

We need engineers to maintain this infrastructure, largely built in the post-war period and coming to the end of their design lifespans. At the same time, cities are racing to build urgently needed infrastructure to accommodate rapidly growing urban populations. continue reading

What’s New in November 2018

NEW Strawbees Coding & Robotics Kit

coding-kit_500

Create your own robotic creatures with the Strawbees Coding & Robotics Kit. You can program and construct different shapes and forms. Connect Strawbees, motors, LEDs and sensors to make your own creatures! It’s a fun and easy way to learn the basics of physical programming, electronics and mechanics, and encourages children to explore coding. This coding kit is pefect for kids, grown-ups and educators. continue reading

Up to $20,000 in Grants Available to Australian Schools

Grants between $2000 and $20,000 are available to Australian schools and community organisations, encouraging practical skills, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews announced applications for the Coalition Government’s Maker Projects grants will open on Thursday, November 8.

circuit scribe STEM Class continue reading

STEM career orientation event Girls’ Day to be held for the first time in Australia

Female high-school students in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth will get to explore a future career in STEM when the Goethe-Institut holds the first ever Girls’ Day in Australia on 16th November. Groups of Year 7 and 8 students will visit companies and universities on the day to find out more about professions in fields such as science, technology, engineering and research. continue reading

We have a national STEM strategy, but what we need is a successful one

Australian schools are now wrestling with a new digital technologies curriculum. In this new subject, every student in Australia will learn the fundamentals of computer science, data science and coding.

This curriculum change is long overdue. Australian students ranked last in tech skills and interest in technical jobs according to a 2016 report produced for the World Economic Forum, across a global sample of countries.

The lack of capability in STEM is evident in the downward trend of PISA scores in science and mathematics, identified in the recently published Australia 2030: Prosperity Through Innovation Plan.

continue reading