Schmidt donates to primary science program

In what has been hailed as a significant investment in science and science education, Nobel Laureate Professor Brian Schmidt has donated $100,000 of his Nobel Prize money to the Primary Connections program.   The Australian Academy of Science, which developed the primary level science education program, said the donation would send a highly symbolic message.  “The academy is moved and very grateful that Professor Schmidt has made this generous donation to support quality science education in Australian primary schools,” said academy president, Professor Suzanne Cory.

In March the government confirmed it would no longer fund Primary Connections, or its high school counterpart, Science by Doing.  The decision, which was widely criticised by educators and scientists alike at the time, came just before the academy finished developing Primary Connections and immediately after the pilot stage of Science by Doing.