Contact Us
Wonder of Science fosters a STEM culture in Queensland schools - where students, teachers, and their parents/carers understand the importance of STEM and believe that STEM education and careers are accessible to them.
Want to partner with us? Want more information about school involvement or funded regions?
General Enquiries
Email: wonderofscience@uq.edu.au
Phone: (07) 3443 1194
Postal Address
Wonder of Science
C/O Graduate School
Level 6, Building 62
The University of Queensland
St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072
To contact a team member directly, please see details below
Dr Kaylene Cooper (nee Butler)
Manager
Email: kaylene.cooper@uq.edu.au
Phone: (07) 3443 1195
Dr Kaylene Cooper is a vertebrate palaeontologist and STEM educator who joined as a Program Officer for Wonder of Science in 2018 and is currently the initiative’s Manager. Kaylene’s PhD research focused on extinct kangaroos from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area in northwestern Queensland, Australia. While volunteering as a Young Science Ambassador during her PhD she developed a passion for STEM education which sparked her career as a STEM educator and science communicator.
Kaylene received a Bachelor of Science majoring in Zoology with First Class Honours in 2013 and a PhD in 2018 from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. During this time Kaylene also described a new genus and two new species of ancient kangaroo from Riversleigh. She then went on to work as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Queensland University of Technology before beginning work with Wonder of Science.
Kaylene also has extensive experience as a science communicator having worked with schools, social media, news, and TV programs such as Totally Wild.
Alexandra McKelvey (nee Hall)
Program Officer
Email: alex.hall@uq.edu.au
Phone: (07) 3346 0530
Alexandra McKelvey is a STEM educator and registered teacher who joined Wonder of Science as a Program Officer in 2022.
Completing a Bachelor of Science majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) from the University of Queensland in 2015, Alex proceeded to teach science, mathematics and technologies in remote and metropolitan secondary schools. In 2021, Alex attained a Master of Education (STEM specialisation) with Distinction from the Queensland University of Technology and was bestowed the STAR award for the top-performing student in the Master of Education (STEM specialisation). Alex is also a sessional academic within the STEM Education program at the Queensland University of Technology.
Her passion for creating, implementing and evaluating evidence-based STEM teaching and learning programs, curriculum, and pedagogies is driven by Alex’s personal and professional experiences to ensure all students have access to high-quality STEM education.
Lenore Irvine
Program Officer
Email: l.irvine@uq.edu.au
Phone: (07) 3443 1194
Lenore is a clinical researcher and science communicator who joined Wonder of Science in 2022 as a Program Officer. Lenore attained a Bachelor of Biomedical Science with Honours in 2014 (University of Queensland), and is studying a PhD in Lung Cancer Research at the UQ Thoracic Research Center (UQTRC). In Lenore’s PhD she aims to develop a simple, non-invasive breath test for the early diagnosis of lung disease particularly, lung cancer.
Lenore first joined Wonder of Science as a Young Science Ambassador in 2021. Not only from her experience as a Young Science Ambassador, but also from Volunteering for the Childhood Cancer Support (CCS) Foundation, she has developed and grown her love for promoting STEM education to the younger generation. She is very passionate about STEM education and science communication, and loves working with children to build their passion for science also.