Science Education News (SEN) Journal 2017 Volume 66 Number 4 December 2017 | Page 13

ASSOCIATION NEWS 2017 Young Scientist Awards finishes on a massive high By Stuart Garth, STANSW Young Scientist Awards Immediate-Past Coordinator Memorable final moments of Awards Ceremony Starting with a bang and ending with an explosion For those who were privileged to attend the 2017 STANSW Young Scientist Presentation Ceremony, no one will ever forget the final moments where our biggest ever ISEF team congregated on the stage to the applause of the 400 crowd. 2017 has been a year where our profile has continued to escalate: (i) BHP Billiton Science and Engineering Awards (February) After a resounding 2016, Ann Hanna took over the reins. Immediately we were recording our best-ever results at the BHP Billiton Science and Engineering Awards. 13 of the 26 national finalists were from the STANSW Young Scientist Awards, and we went on to win half of the major awards. In the primary division five of the eight national winners were NSW projects. (ii) NESA releases new senior science syllabuses (February) Meanwhile, NESA released the new HSC Science course syllabuses, including the new 'Investigating Science' course which closely parallels our Scientific Investigation category. Depth-studies became the subject of professional development meetings. The long-awaited Science Extension Draft Syllabus was released on the last day of February, with the potential of revolutionising research skills for those who elect to take this course, due to start in 2019. Three months later on May 29, Education Minister Rob Stokes announced updated NESA rules allowing students to complete seven science units in Year 12. Then moments later STANSW Vice-president, Vatché Ansourian called all the award winners and Young Scientist Committee members out the front for one huge selfie, to the applause of a now-depleted crowd of 290 people. “HSC pathway for scientists of the future” – Teacher Victoria Cull with PLC students in Sydney, ‘The Australian’, 29th May, 2017, Picture: John Feder. With these new NESA developments the practical divide that traditionally existed between the senior science courses and our Young Scientist research-based judging rubric has now reduced, and we should see the changes as “a win for students with a passion for science and research”, as stated by the NSW Education Minister. 13 SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 66 NO 4