The Harry Butler Education Hub will deliver free, curriculum-aligned resources as well as hands-on programs that connect students and teachers with real-world science and scientists. 

The Hub's development was inspired by schools across WA reporting challenges in accessing authentic STEM learning linked to local science.  

“Teachers often lack WA-specific resources, data sets, and opportunities for students to engage in meaningful science projects,” Pauline Charman, Education Specialist at Murdoch University’s Harry Butler Institute, said.

Now, school students across WA will be able to contribute to real scientific databases and research outcomes.

At the heart of the Hub is the belief that every school – metropolitan, regional, and remote – should have access to quality scientific education. 

WA students from as far away as Christmas Island, Looma, Esperance and beyond, will be able to access these cutting-edge WA scientific resources, through free digital resources mapped to the WA curriculum, hands-on STEM programs that build inquiry and problem-solving skills and direct access to Murdoch researchers, bringing science to life in classrooms.

Students can participate in authentic citizen science projects such as DNA barcoding, wetland health monitoring, biodiversity surveys, and forest restoration.  

Teachers will benefit from ready-to-use worksheets, high-quality WA examples for assessments, and dynamic learning opportunities through a Meet the Scientist program. 

The Hub builds on five years of successful co-designed initiatives led by Ms Charman and Dr Grey Coupland, including the statewide WA Barcode Blitz, Project Wetland Science, and Miyawaki Pocket Forests.  

“We found there was a really strong appetite from educators for hands on STEM opportunities and so we formalised this work into a program that any educator can engage with to make science exciting and, importantly, tangible,” Ms Charman said. 

By embedding WA-specific science into classrooms, the Harry Butler Education Hub aims to spark curiosity, boost scientific literacy, and inspire the next generation of innovators.  

The Honorable Dr Parwinder Kaur MLC said the Hub would be a catalyst for this inspiration – encouraging young learners to ask the simple but profound question - ‘why?’ 

“To be able to spark that curiosity and encourage our young innovators in our next generation... that can lead to not just professional pathways, but also to a fulfilling life journey,” she said.  

 The Hub represents Murdoch University’s commitment to making STEM education inclusive and connected to the unique ecosystems of Western Australia.