NEWS
A New Age for STEM Learning: The Launch of STEMeez
A new era of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is here with the launch of STEMeez, a groundbreaking online platform designed to provide free, trusted and research-backed STEM resources for families and educators.
This innovative platform aims to transform early years STEM education through inclusivity, multimodal learning, and hands-on exploration. The STEM hub will also endeavour to address inclusivity and equity in STEM participation through a series of online interventions that engage children, young people, carers, and educators from early childhood to VCE.
The project was made possible through funding from the Invergowrie Foundation, bringing together academics from The University of Melbourne (UoM), Deakin University (Deakin) and Swinburne University of Technology (SUT).
STEMeez will be launched at an event on Friday 14th March 2025, hosted by STEM influencer Vanessa Hill and Victoria’s Lead Scientist, Dr. Amanda Caples, the launch event will showcase how STEMeez is set to transform early years STEM education.
“There is a significant gap in STEM learning resources for young children, and STEMeez aims to bridge that gap with a platform that makes STEM fun, accessible, and engaging,” said Dr. Amanda Caples, Victoria’s Lead Scientist. “By integrating digital and hands-on learning experiences, we are helping children develop essential skills like creativity, critical thinking, and curiosity about the world around them.”
Why STEMeez Matters
Grounded in a systematic review of 82 websites and co-designed with educators and parents across Victoria, STEMeez addresses the need for gender inclusive, multimodal learning resources in early years STEM education. Key findings from the research highlight:
Scarcity of Interactive Resources: Less than half of the platforms studied provided children with meaningful opportunities to learn STEM concepts independently.
Lack of Everyday STEM Connections: Only a small number of websites included links to everyday STEM experiences and experiential learning, which are crucial for building foundational knowledge.
Diversity and Inclusion Gaps: None of the platforms analysed explicitly catered to diverse learning abilities, cultural backgrounds, or socioeconomic differences.
Current evidence tells us that our key leverage points of influence are with young children (under 10 years of age), families and educators. Putting STEM practices and values at its core, STEMeez focuses on three key ideas: making STEM part of everyday life, broadening STEM career possibilities, and ensuring gender inclusivity.
STEM isn’t just about textbooks or classrooms—it’s everywhere, in kitchens, gardens, roads, and playgrounds. STEMeez makes it easy for parents and educators—especially those without a STEM background—to explore STEM concepts in everyday activities, turning daily routines into valuable learning moments.
For more information, https://www.stemeez.com.au/
