UNSW Curious

Design a program for your school 

Schools can select from the UNSW CURIOUS Program menu to create a tailored schedule of around six sessions in a single school day. In most cases, we will bring all required equipment. For Data Science workshops, however, students will need access to laptops (either individually or one between two). Teachers are not required to participate in the sessions. 

What schools are eligible? 

CURIOUS is free to all regional UNSW Gateway partner schools. Other regional schools may also be eligible for free delivery, particularly those with higher Indigenous student populations and lower Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) scores. 

Our mission is to bridge the gap in science engagement and aspirations between regional and metropolitan schools by delivering immersive, hands-on STEM experiences directly to students under 18 in underserved communities.  

Participation is free for eligible schools in 2025–26, thanks to funding from the Australian Government. Places are limited, so enquire early to secure your spot. Contact us to check your school’s eligibility and our upcoming workshop availability.

Who we are

This project is delivered as a partnership between Passionately Curious and the UNSW SciX Discovery team. Together, we bring extensive experience in delivering outreach initiatives, including the signature SciX research experience for Year 11-12 science students alongside various school talks, student workshops and teacher professional development sessions.

Our team typically includes staff at different career stages and from a diverse range of scientific disciplines. The CURIOUS team features experienced educational developers, PhD researchers, and undergraduate students, all dedicated to inspiring a passion for science in young learners. 

Dr Laura McKemmish 

Dr Laura McKemmish is a computational chemist from the UNSW School of Chemistry.  She is working at the intersection of quantum chemistry, spectroscopy, and astrochemistry. Her research focuses on making complex quantum chemical calculations more accessible, efficient, and impactful, particularly in areas like exoplanet atmosphere modelling and algorithm benchmarking.

Alongside her research, she leads the SciX Discovery program, which enables high school students to undertake scientific research while building STEM confidence in regional and underrepresented communities. She is passionate about inclusive, evidence-based education. In 2025, she collaborated with James Cleaver to secure funding to expand UNSW SciX into regional areas through the CURIOUS initiative. 

James Cleaver 

James Cleaver is an Architect and IBM Master Inventor with deep expertise in enterprise architecture and generative AI. He is passionate about data science and emerging technologies, and is dedicated to sharing industry knowledge and best practices that help organisations and individuals harness data-driven solutions for real-world impact.

Beyond his technical leadership, James is a recognised contributor to the STEM community. He serves as Head Judge for a national Australian student science competition and has represented Australia as a judge at the International Science and Engineering Fair. His philanthropic commitment to widening participation in STEM has driven him to undertake a PhD focused on supporting students in regional areas to access science opportunities, building on his volunteer work with UNSW and the SciX Discovery Program.

James combines technical excellence with a commitment to education, collaboration, and expanding access to STEM opportunities. His work reflects both his professional standing as an Enterprise and Generative AI Architect, and his personal passion for empowering the next generation of innovators.

We look forward to working with you to create a timetable from the following options: