Support the Royal Society of Victoria
As an independent not-for-profit, the Royal Society of Victoria advocates for the use of good science by everyone who wants to make our world a better place. In this highly disrupted era, we need more help than ever to put science to work, so we’re activating community-level programs and projects concerned with life sciences, environment, community education and resource recovery, particularly where these are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
With RSV-managed initiatives such as the Inspiring Victoria program, we foster community capacity directly. By auspicing the work of smaller charities aligned with our mission, we foster impact through our partnerships.
Our aim is to help everyone be a part of finding smart solutions for our most challenging problems. Your generosity will help us to nourish a resilient, adaptable generation and grow a better future, connecting the best expertise with grass roots efforts to build a brighter future together.
Your support for our efforts is much needed, and would be greatly appreciated.
You can make a tax-deductible donation to any of the current programs listed below.
Bequests – Leave a Gift in your Will
If you are considering your legacy and would be interested in contributing to the future growth and success of the Society’s projects and programs, we would gratefully welcome your support. Gifts to the Society can be itemised in your legal will, and we would be pleased to discuss any conditions you would like to stipulate.
Write your Will online for free with Gathered Here
Making or changing your Will to include a gift to the Royal Society of Victoria could be as simple as contacting your legal advisor. Alternatively, you can now use a simple online option. We’ve partnered with Gathered Here, a free and easy, step-by-step, online Will writing service. It takes less than 10 minutes.
Our Auspicees
The Australian Science & Engineering Fair (AUSSEF)
Since 1999, more than 180 Australian finalists have participated in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest pre-college student science competition convened by the USA’s Society for Science. Of these Australian finalists, 55 have won Grand awards totalling USD $168,350 and 36 have won Sponsored Awards and Scholarships.
AUSSEF was urgently established in September 2022 by a group of passionate volunteers to provide Australia’s only national ISEF-affiliated science and engineering fair and a pathway for our most talented and high performing STEM students to represent Australia at ISEF and other international science and engineering fairs.
Funding is now required to enable the 2025 team to represent Australia and travel to present their work at ISEF 2025, in Columbus, Ohio, accompanied by teacher chaperones. Your donation towards these expenses is tax-deductible in Australia thanks to the auspicing support of the Royal Society of Victoria, one of Australia’s longest-established science societies, a registered charity and a Deductible Gift Recipient for tax purposes. This is a wonderful opportunity to help bright young people overcome economic barriers and foster their further achievements – we would be so grateful for your support.
Corporate sponsorship is also being sought. To learn more about AUSSEF, head to their website at https://aussef.com.au/ or send them an email.
The BrainSTEM Innovation Challenge
BrainSTEM’s programs engage high school students through direct participation in real world Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) challenges, participating in innovation and research projects with the guidance of a university-level STEM mentor.
BrainSTEM offers students in metropolitan and regional areas with the opportunity to work in a research environment and participate in the journey of scientific discovery, side by side with their university mentor. Programs include a 12-week Innovation Challenge and workshops on building adaptable, resilient minds and design thinking.
As of 2019, BrainSTEM’s programs have:
- Reached more than 400 students
- Provided more than 4,000 hours of mentoring
- Achieved a 60% participation rate from public/lower SES schools
- Achieved a 55% participation rate for girls.
BrainSTEM is an inclusive program, with a focus on nurturing more female STEM enthusiasts. Your support will help us to bring on board more mentors and to offer programs in more rural and remote areas while keeping program costs to low-SES schools and communities as low as possible.
To learn more about what BrainSTEM does – head to our website brainstem.org.au or send us an email.
Australian Indigenous Astronomy
The First Australians are among the oldest astronomers in the world, having created complex knowledge systems about the Sun, Moon, and stars.
Collaborations with elders are revealing a new wealth of knowledge that challenges colonial ideas about Aboriginal culture, catching the attention of the general public. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are severely underrepresented in all areas of astronomy. Our programs aim to create opportunities and pipelines for Indigenous students who are passionate about becoming astrophysicists and/or learning more about Indigenous Astronomical Knowledge.
Our programs focus on four primary areas: Indigenous community engagement to generate interest among students and community members in astronomy and space science; research and education programs for students studying Indigenous Astronomical Knowledge; scholarships for Indigenous students at all tertiary levels to pursue studies and degree programs in astrophysics, space science, and Indigenous astronomy and meetings and workshops for educators and Indigenous community members to share ideas and develop scholarship in Indigenous astronomy.
Your support will help put Indigenous knowledge at the centre of how we understand the world around us, and foster the next generation of Indigenous thinkers and leaders.
