Science Teachers’ Association of New South Wales Inc.
Providing leadership and promoting excellence in science education
OBJECT 3.2 f. supporting an interest in and to be a member of
the national peak body of science teachers.
Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA)
STANSW Reps : Maree Woods / Margaret Shepherd
Programs for STANSW Members that are organised by ASTA include:
•
National Youth Science Forum Teacher Earth Science Program (TESEP) Board: The TESEP
•
program is a professional development series of eight workshops for science teachers of years 7-10. Topics
include Round and Round with Rocks, Riding the Climate Rollercoaster, Greening Coal, Our Place in
Space, and Fossil Sunlight.
•
Australian Science Innovations (ASI): The Big Science Competition is suitable for students of all abilities.
This international competition tests students' scientific inquiry and problem solving skills as well as their
scientific literacy in contemporary contexts.
•
CONASTA 66 - Hobart 2017: www.conasta.edu.au
•
National Science Week: Schools can apply for grants to enable them to conduct Science Week activities
Bush Blitz Teach Live.
•
STEMX summer school: The STEMX summer school is designed to provide teachers of science unique
experiences in STEM education in order to stimulate their passion for science and, in turn, enhance their
teaching of science to their students.
•
Sony Science Teachers’ Association (SSTA) Exchange: Japanese teachers visited selected schools in
Canberra and Adelaide as part of this exchange program.
•
Ruth Dircks Scholarship: The scholarship covers the cost of early bird registration, travel and
accommodation to CONASTA. asta.edu.au/awards/ruthdircks
•
Science ASSIST: A new and innovative national online advisory service for school science educators and
technicians.
ASTA Executive are members of the following:
•
The BHP Billiton Science Awards Management Committee and judging panels
•
The Prime Minister's Science Teaching Awards Committee and judging panel
•
The ASTA online portal: A link to this portal is available from the ASTA website and contains a number of
resources for science teachers
•
SPECTRA: Classroom activity cards covering a range of science topic cards assisting students to carry out
a range of practical and observational activities, research, experiments and projects. An award system for
satisfactory completion enhances the program.
ASTA supports a number of awards:
•
60-Second Challenge: Create a short video that explains an Invention, an Experiment, a Science Concept or
an idea. Details at www.60secondscience.net
•
Australian Academy of Science Teacher Awards - Scholarship to attend Science at the Shine Dome
www.science.org.au/events/sats
•
BHP Billiton Science Awards: Includes Student Awards for young people who have undertaken practical
research projects, which demonstrate innovative approaches and thorough scientific procedures, and
Teacher Awards recognising outstanding contributions made by classroom teachers to science education.
www.scienceawards.org.au
•
NATA Young Scientists Award: Every school across Australia is invited to submit a science project in the
competition to win cash prizes. www.nata.com.au
•
The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes: reward excellence in the fields of research and innovation,
leadership and commercialisation, school science, and science journalism and communication.
eureka.australianmuseum.net.au
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