Just mad about science

Corey Tutt is a determined man. A day before his interview with Money, he received four messages vilifying him for his race. He says that he uses such attacks to energise his drive to help educate Aboriginal kids across Australia about the wonders of science.

- ALAN DEANS

Fact file

Corey Tutt

Founder of the kids' charity Deadly Science. Aged 29; lives in Port Macquarie, NSW.

Worked shearing alpacas and cleaning at an animal shelter. When DeadlyScience, won the 2021 Australian Museum Eureka Stem Inclusion Prize, he had trophies made and sent them to dozens of remote communities so they could share the success. "If they are not part of it, then it would be a waste," he explained. Tutt's grandfather taught him that he might not win every race, but if he tried his best then he would win a championship. Believes that patience is of the essence because, if you don't get what you want on one day, you will succeed on another. Enjoys fishing and rugby.

Tutt was born in the Shoalhaven region south of Sydney, but his family comes from northern NSW around Walgett, Gilgandra and Armidale. "For me, being a caramel kid, I've had to overcome a lot of trauma to get where I am," he says. "When you put yourself in the public domain and you are an Aboriginal person in science, you stick out a bit.

"But I turn it into a positive. If I don't do that, how can I expect the kids [we help out] to keep it positive when someone racially vilifies them, or attacks their integrity, or bullies them online? If I can share the stories of those who are doing really well, then that will encourage others to do really well, too. It's going to be okay for them."