Corey Tutt
{{Short description|Indigenous Australian mentor and STEM champion}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Corey Tutt
| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM|size=100}}
| image = Corey Tutt Australia.jpg
| alt = Corey Tutt
| caption = Tutt in 2019
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = New South Wales, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Australian
| education =
| occupation = {{bulleted list|Research assistant|Director & CEO, DeadlyScience}}
| known_for = DeadlyScience founder
2020 NSW Young Australian of the Year
| website = {{URL|https://deadlyscience.org.au/}}
| module =
}}
Corey Aden Tutt {{Post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}} is an Aboriginal Australian STEM professional, author, social entrepreneur and the founder of DeadlyScience, an initiative that provides STEM resources to remote schools throughout Australia. In 2020 he was named the NSW Young Australian of the Year.
Early life
Tutt grew up in the Illawarra, New South Wales, and is of Kamilaroi heritage.{{cite web | last=Snowden | first=Angelica | title=How toilets in space hit a chord for Corey | website=The Australian | date=16 January 2020 | url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/science/corey-tutt-how-toilets-in-space-hit-scientific-chord/news-story/9266468b074f56d5d543e939e796ea42 | access-date=29 November 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://education.abc.net.au/newsandarticles/blog/-/b/3169667|title=One person's passion for learning is supporting countless others in remote parts of Australia|website=education.abc.net.au|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-01-22}} He attended Dapto High School,{{Cite web |url=https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/6476836/former-dapto-high-student-wins-nsw-young-australian-of-the-year-award/|title=Former Dapto High student wins NSW Young Australian of the Year award| last=Crabb| first=Brendan|date=2019-11-05| website=Illawarra Mercury|language=en|access-date=2020-01-22}} where his favourite subjects were science, agriculture, and history.{{Cite web|url=https://careerswithstem.com.au/profiles/corey-tutt-deadly-science/|title=Deadly Science founder|website=Careers with STEM|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-01-22}}
In 2011, after a close friend committed suicide, Tutt became a travelling alpaca shearer throughout Australia and New Zealand, before eventually rediscovering his love for science.{{cite web |date=15 March 2020 |title=The Year That Made Me: Corey Tutt 2011 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/sundayextra/the-year-that-made-me-corey-tutt/12046188 |access-date=28 November 2021 |website=ABC Radio National |format=Audio}}
Career
Tutt began his career as a zookeeper on the NSW South Coast,{{Cite web|url=https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/podcast/corey-tutt-the-power-of-deadly-science/|title=Corey Tutt - The Power of Deadly Science|website=Australian Geographic| language=en-AU|access-date=2020-01-22}} then spent time as an alpaca shearer travelling throughout Australia and New Zealand.
In 2018, Tutt founded DeadlyScience to "provide science books and early reading material to remote schools in Australia".{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://deadlyscience.org.au/about-us/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=DeadlyScience |language=en-AU}}
In 2019, he started working as a research assistant at the University of Sydney's Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use.{{cite web | title=Revealed: the Australians who inspired you | website=The Australian | date=21 January 2020 | url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/the-australians-australian-of-the-year-award-2020-full-list-of-nominees/news-story/f431de81f52dfc25fe32f190434360c4 | access-date=29 November 2021}}{{cite web | title=Meet the man on a mission to bring science to Indigenous students | website=The University of Sydney | date=15 May 2019 | url=https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2019/05/15/meet-the-man-on-a-mission-to-bring-science-to-indigenous-student.html | access-date=29 November 2021}}
In 2022, Tutt authored the award-winning best seller, The First Scientists: Deadly Inventions and Innovations from Australia's First Peoples,{{Cite news |last=Dow |first=Steve |date=2023-05-22 |title='Significantly shocking': debut author Debra Dank breaks records at NSW premier's literary awards |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/may/22/significantly-shocking-debut-author-debra-dank-breaks-records-at-nsw-premiers-literary-awards |access-date=2023-05-22 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-02 |title=NSW Premier’s Literary Awards 2023 shortlists announced |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2023/03/02/227642/nsw-premiers-literary-awards-2023-shortlists-announced/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |publisher=Books+Publishing}} illustrated by Archibald Prize-winning artist Blak Douglas.{{Cite web |last=Story |first=Hannah |date=2023-05-22 |title=Debut author scoops $85,000 in literary prizes with memoir |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/debut-author-scoops-85-000-in-literary-prizes-with-memoir-20230511-p5d7og.html |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}
In 2023 Tutt arranged for seven Yorta Yorta students from Shepparton in Victoria to meet seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton.{{cn|date=December 2023}}
In June 2023, Tutt released This Book Thinks Ya Deadly, featuring the profiles of 80 Blakfellas who are doing deadly things across sport, art, activism and science, through to politics, education and literature. The book is illustrated by Molly Hunt.{{Cite web |last=CircleSoft |title=This Book Thinks Ya Deadly! A Celebration of Blak Excellence |url=https://www.megalongbooks.com.au/p/this-book-thinks-ya-deadly-a-celebration-of-blak-excellence |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Megalong Books |language=en}}
DeadlyScience
Tutt founded DeadlyScience while working at Sydney University. Originally working two jobs to fund DeadlyScience, he set up a gofundme page that attracted over {{AUD|240,000}} in donations,{{Cite web|url=https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2019/11/05/corey-tutt-named-nsw-young-australian-of-the-year.html|title=Corey Tutt named NSW Young Australian of the Year|website=The University of Sydney|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-01-22}} after realising that there was a school in remote Australia who had only fifteen books in their library.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/meet-the-man-building-libraries-in-remote-communities-by-post|title=Meet the man building libraries in remote communities - by post| website=The Feed |language=en| access-date=2020-01-22}} Starting off by sending his own books and other resources, including telescopes to remote schools, Tutt started coordinating donated resources, including books from high-profile scientists such as Brian Cox and Karl Kruszelnicki. By 2020 he had delivered 7,000 books and 200 telescopes to over 100 schools and foundations. He wants to encourage Indigenous students in remote communities to pursue a career in STEM.{{cite web | title=The young Trailblazers making waves in regional Australia | website=Heywire | date=6 February 2020 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/heywire/heywire-project-trailblazers-abc-2020-winners-announcement/11927574 | access-date=29 November 2021}}
He particularly wants to ensure that every remote Australian school has resources that tell the true history of Australia's first scientists, such as Bruce Pascoe's book, Dark Emu.
From 2019, Tutt founded a series of Deadly Junior Scientist Awards, aimed at inspiring Indigenous students to engage with STEM and to examine local wildlife and land in a scientific way.{{cite web|url=https://www.indigenous.gov.au/news-and-media/stories/2019-indigenous-stem-awards-winners |title=2019 Indigenous STEM Awards winners| date=7 February 2020 |access-date=29 November 2021}}
In 2020, DeadlyScience began assisting with rebuilding schools affected by devastating bush fires which ravaged most of the South Coast of New South Wales. They did this by providing books and resources to schools that have been destroyed by fire. DeadlyScience also successfully raised {{AUD|7,000}} for Broome Primary School in Western Australia that was burnt down by an arson attack. Tutt said on the ABC Nightlife program "Schools are the heartbeat of our community and for our community in Broome we stand with you during this dark time".{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
In 2020 he was awarded NSW Young Australian of the Year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/honour-roll/?view=fullView&recipientID=2207| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321181114/https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/honour-roll/?view=fullView&recipientID=2207|title=Australian of the Year Awards| website=Australian of the Year| access-date=2020-01-22| archive-date=21 March 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2019/11/05/deadly-science-founder-named-nsw-young-australian-year|title='Deadly Science' founder named NSW Young Australian of the Year|website=NITV|date=5 November 2019|language=en|access-date=2020-01-22}}
In 2021 Tutt led a project to provide food and educational supplies to Aboriginal families in NSW struggling with COVID-19.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}} During the floods on the Mid-north coast of NSW in 2021, when Telegraph Point Public School was destroyed by flooding, Tutt donated books to replace the books lost by the school.{{Cite web|url=https://www.portnews.com.au/story/7245684/tutt-inspires-future-change-makers-with-deadly-science/|title = Tutt inspires future change-makers with Deadly Science|date = 10 May 2021}}
During the 2021 COVID-19 outbreak in NSW, Tutt led a social media campaign to support kids and families doing it tough in lockdown, and sent books to families.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
Tutt appeared on Wil Anderson's podcast Wilosphy, in which he spoke about overcoming trauma as a child to create DeadlyScience.{{Cite web|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/wilosophy-with-corey-tutt/id951354264?i=1000464640019|title = WILOSOPHY with Wil Anderson: WILOSOPHY with Corey Tutt on Apple Podcasts}}
By October 2021, DeadlyScience had distributed more than 25,000 books and other STEM resources to over 110 communities around the country.
In April 2022 Tutt worked with McLaren Formula One team and software company Smartsheet to feature the DeadlyScience logo on the side of both McLaren cars for the Grand Prix in Melbourne.{{cn|date=December 2023}}
In 2022 DeadlyScience donated Lego to over 200 schools across Australia.{{cn|date=December 2023}}
In November 2022 Tutt organised a bus for Cabbage Tree Island School after the devastating floods that destroyed their school. Tutt also gave every child, from three schools devastated by the floods, a brand new book so they would not lose their passions for STEM.{{cn|date=December 2023}}
Other roles and activities
Tutt is a member of the equity and diversity committee at Science & Technology Australia.
{{as of |2021}}, Tutt was playing rugby union for the Port Macquarie Pirates.{{cite web | last=Smith | first=Douglas | title='Shattered': Aboriginal rugby player allegedly racially abused by spectator | website=NITV | date=26 July 2021 | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/shattered-aboriginal-rugby-player-allegedly-racially-abused-by-spectator/1sqw1ht8b | access-date=11 August 2023}}
Recognition and awards
- 2019: AMP Foundation Tomorrow Maker{{cite web| url=https://www.ampstomorrowfund.com.au/tomorrow-makers/2019/corey-tutt.html| title=Corey Tutt}}
- 2019: STEM Champion Award, in the 2019 Indigenous STEM Awards{{cite web | last=Johnston | first=Rae | title=Awards shine a spotlight on Indigenous STEM superstars | website=NITV | date=6 February 2020 | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2020/02/06/awards-shine-spotlight-indigenous-stem-superstars | access-date=29 November 2021}}
- 2020: ABC Trailblazer Heywire
- 2020: Indigenous STEM Champion CSIRO{{Cite web|url=https://www.csiro.au/en/Education/Programs/Indigenous-STEM/Programs/AWARDS/Winners-and-Finalists/2019|title = 2019 Indigenous STEM Awards finalists}}
- 2020: NSW Young Australian of the Year
- 2020: One of ten Human Rights Heroes at the substitute Human Rights Awards{{cite web| url=https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/celebrating-2020-human-rights-heroes| website= Australian Human Rights Commission |title=Celebrating the 2020 Human Rights Heroes |access-date=28 November 2021}}{{cite web | website=Australian Human Rights Commission | title=Human Rights Heroes Campaign Finalists | date=7 December 2020 | url=https://humanrights.gov.au/human-rights-heroes/human-rights-hreroes-campaign-finalists | access-date=28 November 2021}}
- 2021: The Australian Museum's Eureka Prize for STEM Inclusion, with Team DeadlyScience:{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Kate|date=2021-09-02|title=2021 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes finalists|url=http://australian.museum/get-involved/eureka-prizes/2021-eureka-prizes-finalists/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901234754/https://australian.museum/get-involved/eureka-prizes/2021-eureka-prizes-finalists/|archive-date=2021-09-01|access-date=2021-09-01|website=The Australian Museum|language=en}}{{cite web | title=Australian Museum Eureka Prize: Corey Tutt and Team DeadlyScience STEM Inclusion winners for 2021 | website=ABC Radio | date=8 October 2021|series=Mornings with Adam Shirley|format=Audio + text | url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/canberra/programs/mornings/eureka-stem-inclusion-winner-corey-tutt-deadlyscience/13576690 | access-date=29 November 2021}}
- 2022: Finalist, NSW/ACT Indigenous Achievement Award{{cite web | title=Previous Finalists | website=Awards Australia | url=https://awardsaustralia.com/young-achiever-awards/nsw/previous-finalists/ | access-date=13 December 2023}}
- 2022: Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM){{Cite web |title=Mr Corey Tutt |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2011351 |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=It's an Honour}}{{cite web | last=Rubbo | first=Luisa | title=Deadly Science founder Corey Tutt receives Queen's Birthday Honour for service to Indigenous STEM | website=ABC News |publisher =Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=13 June 2022 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-13/deadly-science-founder-corey-tutt-queens-birthday-honour/101142408 | access-date=14 June 2022}}
- 2022: The First Scientists: Deadly Inventions and Innovations from Australia's First Peoples, winner, Book of the Year for Younger Children at the Australian Book Industry Awards{{cite web | title=2022 Archives | website=ABIA | date=20 June 2022 | url=https://abiawards.com.au/year-won/2022/ | access-date=13 December 2023}}{{cite web | title=2022 ABIA winners announced | website= Australian Publishers Association | date=9 June 2022 | url=https://publishers.asn.au/Web/Web/Latest/APANews/20220614_ABIA_Winners_Announced.aspx | access-date=13 December 2023}}{{cite web | title=‘Love & Virtue’ wins ABIA book of the year 2022 | website=Books+Publishing | date=10 June 2022 | url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2022/06/10/215493/love-virtue-wins-abia-book-of-the-year-2022/ | access-date=13 December 2023}}
- 2023: The First Scientists: Deadly Inventions and Innovations from Australia's First Peoples, winner, Children's Book of the Year and shortlisted for the Indigenous writers' prize, both at the NSW Premier's Literary Awards
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://deadlyscience.org.au/|DeadlyScience}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tutt, Corey}}
Category:Australian indigenous rights activists
Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia
Category:Australian of the Year Award winners