The science of teaching from the heart

Dr Alana Wylie describes herself as head science lover of the innovative education company, Eye Heart Science, bringing the joy of science to primary school children across Australia.

Her passion is infectious, resonating with students who participate in hands-on science activities in OOSH (Out of School Hours) programs using her product. These programs are designed to showcase the ‘wow factor’ that Wylie herself discovered as a young child, following in her scientist father’s footsteps.

With a PhD in immunology and parasitology, and a career spanning several years in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals industry, including AstraZeneca and Novartis, Wylie is also the founder and the driving force behind the business that has exploded in the past year and will ignite 50,000 young minds by the end of the year.

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“I love science, and I think that absolutely everyone on the planet would love it, too, if they were taught it in a way that helps them see everything that they are interested in has an element of science to it,” Wylie says.

“My ethos in teaching kids’ science is they have to say ‘wow!’ before they ask ‘why?” she says.

The genesis for Eye Heart Science was an after-school club called the Young Investigators Science Club, which Wylie developed when she started trying to combine parenting duties with continuing her career.

In the beginning, it was just Wylie and a university student going around schools with a basket of science supplies. She was instantly hooked, thrilled to be creating engaging experiments for the kids and diving into fun, hands-on learning and problem-solving.

The program was a hit with all stakeholders: children couldn’t get enough of the experiments, parents loved seeing their kids challenged and engaged, and schools were delighted to enhance their extracurricular activities with such a valuable addition.

Before long, the Young Investigators Science Club outgrew itself, and Wylie says she knew there was a business opportunity waiting to be developed.

“I launched Eye Heart Science in 2019 and it just grew and grew. It was amazing,” she explains. “By the end of 2023, the program had reached 800 students a week in 35 schools but we were at full capacity. It was a lot of work and the model needed to change.”

To support the growth, Wylie said she tapped into the networks and relationships she had been building since university, as well as forging new ones in the entrepreneurial world.

“Each step of my career has been profoundly impacted by the relationships I’ve built through networking. When I decided to start Eye Heart Science, networking became even more crucial and provided me with the support, advice, and resources needed to grow and succeed,” she says.

Wylie says joining established groups, such as Dell’s Women’s Entrepreneurial Network (DWEN) helped her navigate the sometimes solo world of an entrepreneur.

“As an entrepreneur, it can feel lonely, but knowing there’s a supportive network like DWEN available is incredibly comforting. The support I’ve received ranges from emotional encouragement to practical advice,” she says.

Recognising the importance of mentorship in entrepreneurial success, DWEN has established a mentorship program that pairs experienced entrepreneurs and Dell’s subject matter experts with emerging leaders. This initiative provides invaluable guidance, advice, and support to help mentees navigate challenges and capitalise on opportunities.

Technology has also played a crucial role in enhancing education at Eye Heart Science.

“With my background in biotech and pharmaceuticals, I have a deep appreciation for the power of technology in transforming how we teach and learn. We leverage technology to source, create, validate, and build high-quality science education content that can be taught to children by anyone. The quality of the content we produce relies heavily on good technology,“ says Wylie.

It’s a formula that has paid off, with feedback from participants leading to a switch from a service model to a product model, where science kits are delivered to customers who already have the infrastructure in place to facilitate group learning.

“This positive feedback has been so influential that it led us to completely transform our business model six months ago and has allowed us to reach even more children, expanding our impact and bringing the joy of hands-on science to a broader audience,” she says.

“We’ve had former students reach out to us, sharing that they chose to pursue science subjects in high school because of their experiences with us.

“It is incredibly rewarding,” says Wylie. ‘We are so excited to see what the next 12 months will bring as we work with our clients to expand our impact on young learners.”

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