Tasmanian Science Talent Search
TSTS
National BHP Foundation Science and Engineering Awards for 2019
From TSTS to Arizona through the BHP Foundation Student Awards.
Tasmanian Students win National Engineering Award with “aWear”
Young Tasmanian Engineers, Isaac Brain from Launceston College, and Mitch Torok from Rosny College, are off to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Arizona, where they will showcase their winning entry in the Engineering section of the National BHP Foundation Science and Engineering Awards. These talented cousins will each enjoy a fully funded trip to ISEF and will share the first prize of $4,000. They received their award at a gala dinner in Melbourne on Tuesday February 4th. Dr Larry Marshall, CSIRO Chief Executive, presented the prize and applauded their collaboration.
Prompted by a concern for their Great Grandmother and the need to care for her should she fall, together they developed a watch, aWear, which can also be warn as either a broach or a lanyard, alerts by SMS, nursing staff with both status and location of the wearer and is triggered through an accelerometer to analyse fall detection. Isaac developed the software and web development and Mitch built the hardware.
Isaac and Mitch were invited to enter the National Awards, after winning the Senior Engineering prize in the 2018 Tasmanian Science Talent Search. There were over 12,000 entries in Research and Engineering from across the country and Tasmania was represented by four students in the 26 finalists. Congratulations also go to Lucy Eade from St Mary’s College, Hobart and Emma Spurr from Kingston High school. Entries in the National Awards are by invitation only, through the Tasmanian Science Talent Search.
For complete information about the 2019 BHP Billiton finalists and to look at their videos go to https://scienceawards.org.au/Student-Awards
Tasmania was also represented in the BHP Foundation Teacher Awards by Dr Perviz Marker of Hellyer College. Perviz has given the last 25 years to teaching year 11 and 12 environmental science students, many of whom have experience success in the Tasmanian Science Talent Search Research Investigation section. Her support of students to explore exciting ideas, to build on their interests and to excel in communicating important science to the wider community demonstrates a serious commitment to quality science education and Tasmanian students are the richer for this support. Perviz demonstrates this in her own research where she spends many hours with penguins.
Opportunities for students from years 7 – 12 to receive bursaries of $500 and above.
STAT and TSTS are very pleased to announce that sponsorship from Rowe Scientific will provide exciting opportunities for bursaries for students in year 7 – 12.
The most significant of these will be in Research Investigations and Engineering – there are also increased chances of success for students from schools that have not entered previously.
Make the most of this opportunity and share it with your students. Bursaries of $500 and above are available.
TSTS Project Planning tips
Are you thinking of supporting your students to get into Research Investigations, just not too sure what the expectation is? Take a look at these work samples from previous years.
Work sample 1: Grade 5 – Creeky Growth
Work sample 2: Grade 4 – Does colour inside the greenhouse matter?
Work sample 3: Grade 4 – Light and Plant Growth
Work sample 4: Grade 5 – Sticky Business
Note: the research investigation section is open to any topic so it is a great opportunity for students to pursue their passion.
More examples: The Science Teachers Association of New South Wales has kindly offered to share examples of student work with interstate colleagues.
Examples of student work submitted to the STANSW Young Scientists Awards.
If you use any of these ideas as a starting point be sure to give due acknowledgement.