The Royal Society of Victoria is committed to partnering with other organisations and groups in the interests of greater collective impact and supporting programs aligned with our mission. Below are just some of the outstanding organisations, groups and individuals with whom we work to improve science literacy and engagement in our State, either through direct affiliation or program partnerships.

Affiliates

Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation

The Western Port Biosphere Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation and sustainable management of the Western Port Biosphere Reserve, located in Victoria, Australia. As one of the five listed UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Australia, and the only in the Southeast, Western Port encompasses diverse ecosystems including Ramsar listed wetlands, mangroves, and coastal habitats, harbouring a rich array of flora and fauna.

The foundation works in collaboration with various stakeholders including government agencies, research institutions, local communities, and businesses to promote biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and sustainable development within the biosphere reserve. Their initiatives involve scientific research, habitat restoration, community engagement, and advocacy for policies that prioritise the long-term health and resilience of the Western Port region. By fostering partnerships and implementing innovative approaches, embedding First Peoples perspectives and science, the Western Port Biosphere Foundation plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the natural heritage and promoting the sustainable use of resources within the Western Port Biosphere Reserve.

Science Teachers Association of Victoria

STAV provides leadership, support, services, programs and resources for all levels of science education in Victoria.

STAV represents the collective voice of all teachers of science in all matters relating to the teaching of science in Victoria and, through ASTA (the Australian Science Teachers Association), it represents these teachers at a national level. Through collaboration with our STAV colleagues, the Society manages the program for National Science Week and the Inspiring Victoria program.

Geography Victoria

Geography Victoria is a new not-for-profit bringing together people of all ages, from all walks of life, and with a broad range of interests, to share in a range of geographical experiences to develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between community and environment in our State.

Land Covenantors Victoria

Land Covenantors Victoria (LCV) is an independent, not-for-profit, member-driven organisation. We:

• Represent, support and connect landholders in Victoria who have a conservation covenant on their land to protect biodiversity.
• Bring current and future covenantors together to share knowledge and experience.
• Advocate for members and campaign for the removal of barriers to adopting a conservation covenant.
• Encourage more Victorians to protect land for biodiversity and ecosystem services.

The Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network

MMHN is a non-political, not-for-profit, member-based ‘umbrella’ organisation that brings together individuals and stakeholder groups from marine, maritime heritage, education, tourism, corporate, and community sectors, committed to greater recognition of, and knowledge about, Melbourne’s maritime heritage and maritime industry sector. MMHN is a catalyst to advocate for the better management of maritime matters.

Partners

Public Libraries Victoria

Public Libraries Victoria takes in the hundreds of organisations acting as grass-roots knowledge hubs for communities across our state. The Society partners with this network to convene science engagement activities for people of all ages and backgrounds, supported by small grants under the Inspiring Victoria program, including activities for National Science Week.

Neighbourhood Houses Victoria

Neighbourhood Houses Victoria is the peak body for the community house sector, representing around 400 community-based organisations across Victoria. Neighbourhood Houses have a significant and meaningful impact on the individual lives of everyday Victorians and hundreds of local communities. The Society works with NHV to deliver grass-roots science literacy and translation initiatives as a part of the Inspiring Victoria program, with a strong focus on climate transitions and sustainability, including activities for National Science Week.

Museums Victoria

Museums Victoria is Australia’s largest public museum organisation, managing a range of knowledge focussed venues including the Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks, the Immigration Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building. Through collaboration with our Museum colleagues, the Society manages the program for National Science Week and the Inspiring Victoria program.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria plays a leading role in the conservation of plants through biodiversity research, programs to protect rare and threatened plants, and the study of habitats. This work is supported by education and visitor programs about the importance of plants to life. The organisation encompasses two diverse sites at Melbourne and Cranbourne and the State Botanical Collection housed at the National Herbarium of Victoria. Through collaboration with our RBGV colleagues, the Society manages the program for National Science Week and the Inspiring Victoria program.

Zoos Victoria

Zoos Victoria is a world-leading zoo-based conservation organisation, dedicated to fighting wildlife extinction. Their four zoos are Healesville Sanctuary, Kyabram Fauna Park, Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Each one provides a unique and immersive experience that attracts visitors from around the world, inspiring animal lovers of all ages. By strengthening the connection between people and wildlife, they aim to protect the future of animals and their homes. The important work of Zoos Victoria includes breeding and recovery programs, involving partnerships with local communities, fellow conservationists, and like-minded organisations — close to home and in far-flung corners of the world. Through collaboration with our Zoos colleagues, the Society manages the program for National Science Week and the Inspiring Victoria program.

Parliament of Victoria

The Parliament of Victoria represents you when making decisions for our state. Its main roles are to debate issues, pass laws and hold the government to account. The Victorian Parliament offers a range of resources, information and programs for teachers, to support the exploration of civics and citizenship and legal studies in Victorian classrooms, along with a community engagement program to help Victorians access the functions of our democracy and understand the complexity of issues typically under consideration by Members of Parliament. Through collaboration with staff colleagues at Parliament, the Society manages the program for National Science Week and the Inspiring Victoria program.

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research

The Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (ARI) is a leading centre for applied ecological research, with an emphasis on flora, fauna and biodiversity issues. ARI’s main focus is on providing strategic research and management advice to answer key questions affecting ecologically sustainable land or water management and resource use policies. They are expanding their capability, with new staff expertise in behaviour change and bringing together different ‘ways of knowing’. Through collaboration with colleagues at ARI, the Society manages the program for National Science Week and the Inspiring Victoria program.

Auspicees

AUSSEF

The Australian Science and Engineering Fair (AUSSEF) assesses student competition projects in the 22 categories offered by the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), sending Australian finalists to the international competition held in the United States each year. Students can submit projects in Animal Sciences, Plant Sciences, Environmental Engineering, technologies than enhance linguistic communication, or address ISEF’s newest category: Technology Enhances the Arts.

AUSSEF is auspiced by the Royal Society of Victoria for grant management and coverage with Deductible Gift Recipient status for philanthropic support.

BrainSTEM

The BrainSTEM Innovation Challenge offers students the opportunity to work in a research environment and participate in the journey of scientific discovery side by side with their STEM mentor. BrainSTEM builds a program to:

• create an opportunity for high school students
• come up with an idea as a team,
• connect them with a mentor (scientist) in a university and then
• work on that idea with their mentor in a university environment.

A team of 4 students from a school is matched with a mentor from a university. These students then engage in 4 to 5 mentoring sessions at the university (typically once a week) and work on their idea. At the end of that mentoring program, these students are given an opportunity to present and showcase their outcomes. The program will:

·       Grow their interest in STEM by working on innovative ideas
·       Get them to learn “hands-on” and apply their academic learning with experimental science
·       Integrate their overall learning with research and develop their sense of curiosity

BrainSTEM is auspiced by the Royal Society of Victoria for grant management and coverage with Deductible Gift Recipient status for philanthropic support.