Independent charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science, The Royal Institution of Australia, together with the federal minister for Industry, Innovation, and Science, Christopher Pyne, have launched Australia’s Science Channel at an event in Adelaide.
Australia’s Science Channel is the first hub in Australia that focuses on publishing science content in an engaging, digestible, and accessible format. The free Web-platform will host a collection of video (static and live broadcast), audio and written content from Australia’s top universities, research and scientific organisations and private institutions.
Working together in close partnership with The Royal Institution of Australia, digital solutions provider, Hostworks, designed the site to help advance understanding and exploration in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
Taking nearly two years to complete, the site also hosts a blog for news updates, social integration, education tools and career guidance platforms.
Hostworks managing director, Will Berryman, said the site will reach all corners of the nation giving teachers, students, parents, and every other Australian the ability to further their STEM education.
“This site will inspire and encourage many young Australians to pursue careers in STEM related fields which is big win for our economy and community.
“The support and expertise Hostworks has provided truly reflects our role as the ‘digital roadies’ for The Royal Institution of Australia. We believe furthering STEM education should be on the agenda for all corporates”, he said.
Berryman added that one of the major issues plaguing STEM adoption is access to materials.
“Without the necessary resources it is almost impossible to educate yourself or teach others. With Australia’s Science Channel, teachers, parents, and professionals around the country will now have better means to further push the STEM agenda.”
The Royal Institution of Australia director, Dr Paul Willis, said that although the hub is still in its infancy, it has great expectations for the channel’s ongoing evolution and is proud of its first public release.
“We set out to create a platform that would present science in creative, daring and user-relevant ways in order to build a more engaged community. The channel will give every Australian the ability to further their STEM education at the click of a mouse.
“This is the first time the channel’s extensive bank of content will be publically available to anyone interested in STEM; it’s a huge step forward for the nation and more specifically for the growth of STEM based subjects across academia,” he added.
Willis also said that there will be further platform releases later this year, which will continuously improve the features on offer as well as the user experience.
“We are really excited about the future possibilities of this innovative and imaginative platform,” he mentioned.
