F1 Gets Deadly

There is no bigger stage than F1, its appeal crosses cultures and continents and millions watch weekly as the spectacle unfolds during each race of the season.

So, fans of McLaren would have noted with some curiosity the DeadlyScience – an Australian STEM in schools not for profit – logo on the car’s livery at the Australian Grand Prix this year.

Placing a logo on a grand prix car involves a serious financial commitment and came about through the relationship DeadlyScience has with work management company Smartsheet and its Sponsor X program, who are in turn a major sponsor of the McLaren Team.

Smartsheet has committed to supporting and spreading the message about DeadlyScience’s work in bringing STEM skills to indigenous students, forgoing the opportunity of placing their own logo on the car in favour of DeadlyScience’s.

McLaren was supportive of the Sponsor X initiative and DeadlyScience, providing access to drivers and marketing resources and donating a second logo placement in the 'halo' near the driver’s cockpit which is prime real estate for TV audiences.

Throughout the race, marketing resources and social media presence were leveraged in partnership with McLaren to broadcast the DeadlyScience message internationally, raising awareness of the brand and mission.

The increased visibility resulted in a 400% donation increase for DeadlyScience and helped them secure a sponsorship with Australia Post, covering the cost of shipping STEM supplies to 220 schools for the next year including its largest ever shipment of Lego.

“We are proud of the impact Sponsor X initiative has made on the kids that DeadlyScience supports. Many have said they’ve gained confidence in feeling ‘seen’ for the first time, allowing them to see that anything is possible if you work hard and dream big,” says Smartsheet’s, Vice President, Asia Pacific, Nigel Mendonca.

Corey Tutt, a Kamilaroi man, started DeadlyScience while working as a research assistant in 2018 in Redfern, Sydney.

Tutt, is a recipient of Australia’s highest honour, The Medal of the Order of Australia for service to Indigenous STEM and the over-achieving Tutt was also NSW Young Australian of the Year, CSIRO Indigenous STEM Champion 2019, ABC Trailblazer 2019 and 2021 Eureka Prize for STEM Inclusion Winner. Corey was also named a human rights hero by the Australian human right commission in 2020.

“From a very early on in my life, I developed a passion for science. It’s all around us, so everyone should have the chance to learn about it. But it was heartbreaking that so many kids in Aboriginal and Torres Islander communities didn’t have access to this education.

“So, after becoming more aware of this disparity, I created DeadlyScience while I was working at the University of Sydney. Two years after that in 2020, DeadlyScience was already having great success in terms of our outreach.

“What we want is for young kids to think science is cool. Our first aim is to provide science books and early reading material to remote schools in Australia and up till now, we have shipped over 25,000 books, 700 telescopes, 10,000 Lego kits and other STEM resources to more than 180 communities.”

“When Smartsheet first reached out to me, I was only a few days out from my wedding and almost did not take the call. But I’m so glad I did! When Smartsheet described their Sponsor X initiative with McLaren and said they wanted to partner with DeadlyScience, I couldn’t believe it. To know that Smartsheet wanted to put our logo instead of theirs on McLaren’s F1 cars and millions would be watching meant everything.

“Knowing that when the kids saw the DeadlyScience logo on the F1 tracks they would see themselves was a huge part of why I was so keen on this partnership. It would tell these kids they could be whoever and whatever they wanted."

Nigel Mendonca says that the DeadlyScience sponsorship functions as their visions align, “What perhaps makes this partnership work best is that both Smartsheet and McLaren are grounded in a shared mission of changing how the world works and plays.

“Smartsheet has supported and continues to support DeadlyScience in multiple ways. We invited Corey and his team to the Australian Grand Prix to make valuable connections with Smartsheet customers, partners and local media. However, our support did not end with the race. Smartsheet also donated software licenses in perpetuity, consultant hours, and training to DeadlyScience so Corey and the team can be more efficient in how they run their organisation.”

Schools can get involved by contacting Corey through DeadlyScience social channels and the website. They are on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.