Tait Foundation Funding Brings Free STEM Experiences to Canterbury Schools
Science Alive is thrilled to announce
Thanks to generous funding from the Tait Foundation, it will be offering free STEM outreach to schools with an EQI of 448 or higher across Canterbury in 2026 and helping remove barriers to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) learning for students.
Access to hands-on STEM education is not equal across the region, with geographic and socio-economic factors limiting opportunities for many schools. Both Science Alive and the TAIT Foundation are driven by a shared commitment to improving accessibility, ensuring all young people can engage with STEM in meaningful, hands-on ways.
The funding will allow Science Alive to travel further and reach more schools
Supported by the purchase of a fit-for-purpose outreach van that enables the safe transport of specialised equipment to classrooms across Canterbury.
“With this funding, we can bring hands-on STEM experiences to more students than ever before,” said Alex Quinlan, Partnerships and Funding Director at Science Alive. “The more children who can experience STEM at a primary level, the more curious and confident they become — and that early engagement can have a lasting impact.”
Introduced in 2023, the Equity Index replaced the decile system and reflects the level of socio-economic barriers faced by students at individual schools. Based on Education Counts data, this funding means over 50 schools in Canterbury will be offered free Science Alive outreach programmes in 2026.
“For many of these students, opportunities to engage with STEM in this way are limited,” said Alex. “This funding helps ensure that where a child lives or goes to school does not determine their access to high-quality STEM experiences.”
Alex Quinlan, Partnerships and Funding Director