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Issue 13: May 2026

It’s the start of a new term, and the CSIRO Education and Outreach team is excited to share a fresh set of resources and opportunities to support your planning for the months ahead.

From a whaley fun webinar to newly-released curriculum‑aligned resources - including Indigenous STEM Education materials as we look ahead to National Reconciliation Week (27 May–3 June) - we invite you to explore what’s on offer and share these opportunities with others in your network who may benefit. 

Annual Humpback Whale Day – free webinar 6 May!

Celebrate Australia’s incredible humpback whales with a FREE live webinar on Wednesday 6 May, 2:00–3:00pm AEST. This engaging online event will explore why humpback whales swim to Australia and how we can help keep them safe, bringing marine science to life for students. Hosted by the Australian National Maritime Museum in partnership with CSIRO, the session will be led by renowned Australian whale scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta, with special guests from around the country. Students will also enjoy a live cross to CSIRO scientist Dr Ben Arthur aboard the research vessel RV Investigator. Suitable for Kindergarten to Year 10, this whale‑y fun event is perfect for classrooms and students learning from home. Free registration required.

New resources in the CSIRO Education Library

A collection of screenshots and documents with text, images and Indigenous designs on them

Explore an exciting new collection of free, classroom‑ready resources in our Education Resource Library. Designed to connect learning to real‑world science and STEM careers, all resources are aligned to the Australian Curriculum. The collection includes lesson plans, inquiry‑based projects, videos and classroom activities across a range of STEM topics, helping to streamline preparation and reduce lesson planning time. The new resources include:

Discover these and other free resources in the CSIRO Education Resource Library.

Program news, opportunities and applications

registrations now open

Living STEM 2026

Living STEM continues in 2026 with fresh initiatives to strengthen culturally connected, hands-on STEM learning for students and educators across the Pilbara region. Delivered by CSIRO in collaboration with Chevron Australia, the Living STEM program has fostered strong partnerships between schools and local Indigenous communities. The program will collaborate with Indigenous Rangers and the Pilbara Ranger Network, and we're establishing a new Community of Practice to strengthen STEM learning.

Register
applications now open

Future Health Leaders Program

CSIRO is supporting the 2026 Future Health Leaders Program, designed to inspire female high school students to enter a career in health and medical research, innovation and life sciences. The program will bring together twelve Year 11 science students in October for an Immersion Day in Canberra that will include panel discussions, a formal session at Australian Parliament House to connect with leading women in the Australian Government, and a session at CSIRO, where participants will take part in activities and hear from CSIRO researchers. Applications close 31 May.

Apply

Connecting industry with emerging STEM talent

Student intern getting paid to electrify agriculture

As an emerging ag-tech company, Azaneo saw an opportunity to partner with the NSW Skills for Net Zero initiative to support their research by offering plant science intern Hunter Diment a hands-on introduction to sustainable agriculture. Discover how this collaboration is accelerating sustainable, low‑emission agriculture, and building the net‑zero workforce in New South Wales for students and industry.

Student engagement soars with aerospace expertise

At Timbarra College P‑9 in Victoria, STEM educator Jay Chew is helping students connect classroom learning to real‑world careers through CSIRO's Aviators in Schools program. By connecting students with a former aerospace engineer involved in the MH17 investigation, student engagement has soared. Building capability and broadening access to future career pathways is a work in progress at the school, and Chew is always looking to build on that.

Meet our 2026 Adult Future Shapers!

A row of faces featuring, from left ro right, a man's face, then a woman's face, another woman's face and then a man's face, next to a final man's face, all looking into the camera, smiling.

We received a record number of outstanding Adult Future Shaper applications from those who support young people to build confidence, capability and connection with STEM. Making the final selection was tough for our judges. Our 2026 Adult Future Shapers are:

  • Ben Harvey, who inspires students to overcome financial and learning difficulties with ICT projects and pathways.
  • Emma Speirs, who connects rural students to Country through STEM.
  • Evie Frawley, who supports regional girls to build their interest in STEM careers.
  • Peter Melling, who volunteers to help regional kids access hands-on STEM learning.
  • Tom Bilney, who helps primary students bring community projects to life.

They will each receive a $3000 support package to continue their great work. Thank you to all who applied, and congratulations to our 2026 Adult Future Shapers!

STEM Together is powered by CSIRO and BHP Foundation. Find out more about Future Shapers and its parent program, STEM Together.