Where Biology Meets Technology, Where Community Meets Innovation

A brief overview

The world still faces several challenges with certain components of the STEM sector. These challenges include a lack of gender equity and diversity across the board, systemic barriers to the translation of research, and declining STEM engagement rates. More importantly, we are dealing with the impacts of Climate Change at an increasing rate. These are complex problems requiring all hands on board to deal with this. To usher in a new way of thinking, doing and being in STEM, we, a collective of academics, students, startups, industry, government are supporting a new initiative, The Civic Science Hub.

Why Civic Science?

Civic -

“Relating to the duties or activities of people in relation to their town, city, or local area”

Since 2014, we have been a part of many innovative communities both local and international. The majority of the activities undertaken by these communities have directly correlated to the challenges faced by members of these communities in their place of living. These activities have always fallen into educational activities, innovative activities, or, both.

Education -

Our education system achieves amazing results in preparing society for a range of careers. However, it is a large system, and with that size come numerous challenges it’s not equipped to deal with. These include issues with rote learning, decontextualised practicals, and a lack of job readiness, to name a few. New educational pathways are needed to embrace and acknowledge the non-linear nature of human development – especially for those in the margins who don’t fit into the typical demographic.

Innovation -

Science is considered a “pay-to-play” space with high barriers to entry due to CAPEX costs, intellectual property costs, and bureaucracy. The result is that many ideas don’t start or fizzle out as they struggle to find the needed resources to grow. Civic Science Hubs provide a space for that moment an idea is generated, it has access to what it needs for testing, development, iteration, etc. in a supported manner.