What is Einstein-First?

Enrolments in ATAR-level STEM courses, and especially physics and mathematics, are in rapid decline in Australian high schools and in many comparable nations, as we fail to inspire students with an outdated traditional curriculum that students see as disconnected from their everyday lives and all of the technological advances that have revolutionised the world over the past century. Einstein-First is a revolutionary new approach to teaching science in the classroom, using exciting age-appropriate activities and toy models to introduce students early to modern, relevant ideas such as atoms, photons, and gravity and how these foundational ideas allow us to understand everything from how the Earth’s climate works, to lasers and quantum technology, and even the story of how the Universe emerged from the Big Bang.

Einstein-First is an award-winning collaboration of internationally renowned physicists and educators working hard to develop a modernised curriculum for the compulsory years of science in Australia (Years 3-10), including high-quality and rigorously tested classroom resources that teachers can implement directly in their classrooms using cheap and readily available equipment. We provide these resources free of charge in pursuit of our belief that every student has the right to our best understanding of the Universe.

Why donate?

Einstein-First has been primarily funded through Australian Research Council grants which provide funding for us to develop, trial, and evaluate our curriculum resources. While this funding covers our core research activities, we rely on our industry partners in order to allow us to work directly with schools, providing free professional development workshops, equipment and ongoing support to help schools implement an exciting and effective modern science curriculum.

This will help create young citizens who understand and feel in control of their future in a rapidly evolving world and develop student aspirations for a future career in diverse science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-related careers, thereby contributing to their own and their community’s future prosperity.

Your contribution will prove especially critical in expanding access to remote, regional, and low-SES schools across Australia.

How will your contribution be used?

There are many ways that your contributions could be used. Key examples include:

• Travel and expenses associated with running free professional development workshops for teachers in regional communities
• Free equipment kits for underprivileged schools
• Producing short activity demonstration or explainer videos to help teachers quickly prepare for lessons
• Providing scholarships to help teachers to access our online micro-credential professional development courses

You are welcome to work with us to suggest where you would like your tax-free donations to be directed, including supporting programs in specific communities where your company is active.

Additionally, commercial sponsorship agreements can be arranged if that is your preference.

Please contact us below for more information on how you can become a donor.

In assessing contribution value, both cash and in-kind support will be combined.

Donation levels

Diamond Donor

Provide $200,000 per year or $600,000 over three years as Principal Donor.

Gold Donor

Provide $50,000 per year

Palladium Donor

Provide $20,000 per year

Platinum Donor

Provide $10,000 cash or in-kind per year

Silver Donor

Substantial donations up to $10,000 cash or in-kind.

The recommended funding period is 3 years. Higher level donors will be acknowledged in perpetuity at Silver Donor level following the conclusion of their funding period. Acknowledgement of regular Silver Donors expires after 3 years. 

Funding Arrangement

The University of Western Australia is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for profits Commission (ACNC) see: https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity?name_abn=37882817280

Donated funds are normally tax deductible and will be channeled through the UWA Development Office to the Einstein-First Project.

Commercial sponsorship arrangements are available but will typically attract tax.

Recognition of donors

Donors will be recognised in all the training materials including the credits of training videos, in lesson plans, in the packaging of equipment kits and on the program delivery platform. Special requests regarding font sizes and wording can be accommodated in agreement with the donor.