STEM down under students are on top of the world ( continued )
ARTICLES
STEM down under students are on top of the world ( continued )
4th place Grand award in the same Environmental Engineering category . Unlike Oliver , Jade and Macinley , Angelina competed as a member of the national BHP Billiton Foundation Science and Engineering team , having won a national award in February . Caitlin Roberts from Tasmania , another member of the sixmember national team won a 3rd place Grand award in the category of Biomedical Engineering .
Future looking good for NSW students
The incredible achievements of our STANSW Young Scientist ISEF finalists highlight the wonderful advancements that have been made in STEM education in NSW over the last three years . Technology students such as Oliver Nicholls are now provided with the pathway opportunity to compete at an international level by entering the Young Scientist Awards – the only state-based ISEF affiliated fair outside of the US . The Young Scientist Awards Program is unique in that it involves the collaboration of the professional teacher associations involved in STEM education in NSW : STANSW ( Science ), IIATE ( Technology and Engineering ) and MANSW ( Mathematics ).
brother , sister , teachers and even a school principal and it was the unity of purpose in the delegation that provided the supportive platform contributing to our wonderful successes later in the week . Right up till the moment before judging , the chaperones and accompanying adults worked tirelessly with each student preparing them for their judging interviews and researching applications and related details that enhanced their presentations . It was a real team effort !
Other ISEF 2018 memorable experiences
Every ISEF trip include memorable experiences and 2018 was no different . The experiences started at Sydney airport with photo opportunities of the team with their posters , adorned in their Sebel shirts . At Dallas airport , the team had the now rare opportunity of sitting in the cockpit of their QF7 Airbus A380 .
With the predicted increase in the number of technology projects due to Oliver ’ s achievements and the anticipated increase in both the standard and quantity of scientific and mathematical investigations due to the emphasis of practical investigations in all the new Stage 6 Science and Mathematics courses , the future is looking bright for NSW students .
However , the biggest development will occur next year when the long-awaited Science Extension course commences , with its entire focus on producing journal-standard scientific research papers . Through the close collaboration between NESA and the Young Scientist Awards Committee , this course promises to lift the bar even further with new rubrics that recommend increased peer-reviewed research , collaboration with local and international experts , increased statistical analysis and journalstyle formatting and referencing . Watch this space when the SEN reports are written up for ISEF 2019 in Phoenix , Arizona and ISEF 2020 in Anaheim , California !
A Full Team Effort !
The winning of an award is not the major outcome of the allexpenses trip to ISEF that is financially supported by our ISEF sponsors Sebel Furniture , Department of Industry , Innovation and Science , Sapphire Foundation and Intel Foundation .
It is the life-changing experiences that leave a lasting impression on every single student who is selected for the Young Scientist team . At Pittsburgh we had our largest ever contingent of 33 members in our Young Scientist delegation that included the student finalists , chaperones , mothers , fathers , grandmother ,
With such a large team , we were able to charter air-conditioned coaches with a step-on tour guide for each of the tours .
The first tour was a trip through the lush countryside of Pennsylvania to the Amish villages of Volant and New Wilmington . Stepping back in time to a culture free of mobile phones , ipods , automobiles and even electricity was a definite eye-opener . At the tour ’ s conclusion , a shopping expedition to a factory outlet was well received .
The team ’ s second tour was to Frank Lloyd Wright ’ s house on the waterfall , Fallingwater . Designed in the 1930 ' s as a summer home for Pittsburgh ' s department store magnate , Edgar Kaufmann it has become an icon of modern architecture . Our team was treated to an in-depth tour , and through the wonders of modern technology their photo was taken from Australia at the live cam strategically positioned at the viewing area .
18 SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 67 NO 2