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February 2024
One week down, ten to go! We hope you had a chance to have a break over the holidays and are wishing you all the best with Term 1.
If you haven't had a chance to renew your SASTA membership for 2024 yet, visit the website here. We'd love to have you as a part of our science community again this year.
SASTA News
SASTA AGM & Call for Board Nominations
The 2024 Annual General Meeting of members of the South Australia Science Teachers Association Inc. will be held on Tuesday 16 April.
All members of SASTA are hereby notified of a call for nominations for 7 positions on the SASTA Board. If you are interested or would like more information please visit the 'Board Elections' section in the Members Area of the website.
2024 SASTA Awards
SASTA would like to acknowledge, and celebrate the amazing teachers in our science community.
This is your opportunity to nominate a colleague who has inspired you or is a role model in the community or share your own accomplishments!
It is free to nominate and there are a number of Awards available for SASTA members. Find out more about the awards and previous winners or nominate yourself or a colleague here.
Science Active Schools
Congratulations to our 2024 Science Active Schools!
- Adelaide Botanic High School
- Annesley Junior School
- Australian Science and Mathematics School
- Brighton Secondary School
- Clarendon Primary School
- Coromandel Valley Primary School
- Glenunga International High School
- Kangaroo Island Community Education
- Pulteney Grammar School
- Stirling East Primary School
- Unley High School
- Westminster School
- Woodville High School
Have you thought about nominating your school? Find out more about Science Active Schools here and keep an eye on the blog for updates from these schools!
Professional Learning
Call for workshops close Sunday 18 February
Do you have something you would like to share with our science community? We'd love to have you join our exciting Conference program for 2024. Find out more here.
Teachers New to Stage 2 Science Workshops
Register now for the SASTA Teachers New to Stage 1 & 2 Science Workshop Series. Find out more here.
- Biology, Nutrition & Physics - Friday 9 February
- Chemistry - Friday 16 February
- Psychology & Scientific Studies - Friday 23 February
This workshop is aimed at people who want to further their skills in setting, assessment and providing feedback on the SHE task. It also will cover the writing and marking of SHE questions for tests and examinations. There will be time to examine your own student work and participate in some cross-moderation and marking of work/drafts.
FREE for SASTA Student Members!
This Professional Learning Day has been specifically designed for pre-service teachers who will be teaching science. The workshops cover a range of interactive and engaging presentations from experienced practitioners to provide the tools and skills needed to survive and thrive in the early years of being a science educator.
Oliphant Science Awards
Navigating the Oliphant Science Awards in your School Webinar
Looking for more information about getting your school involved in The Oliphant Science Awards?SASTA will be holding a FREE Webinar for teachers and school representatives interested in becoming School Coordinators for the 2024 Oliphant Science Awards.
This session will give you a chance to hear from the competition organisers, head judges and a panel of experienced school coordinators. Register here.
Resources
Biology, Chemistry & Physics available now
Practice Test & Exams | NEW for Students
Students can hone their skills with eight thoughtfully curated practice tests for each subject and two comprehensive exams designed to prepare you for the Skills and Applications Tasks in SACE Stage 1 or 2 Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Test their knowledge, identify areas for improvement, and build confidence.
Contributions from the science community
Science at the Fringe
Inspiring SA is again partnering with Adelaide Fringe to present Science at the Fringe where you're invited to embark on an adventure as artists and scientists join forces to entertain and inform. There is something for everyone with topics ranging from physics to wine, in venues as diverse at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, a nightclub and the Planetarium. The Science at the Fringe Award is presented to the best STEMM (science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine) themed show at Adelaide Fringe 2024.
Download your copy of the Science at the Fringe guide here.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science virtual event for students
A free virtual event for students of all ages & genders interested in a career in science or medicine
The Krembil Research Institute at UHN will be hosting a free 1-hour virtual event on February 9, 2024 from 10-11am ET, in recognition of the UN’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science. All registrants will also receive a recorded link.
This free public outreach event is geared to middle school, high school and early university students of all ages & affiliations, and is a unique opportunity to hear from trailblazing scientists and clinicians working on discoveries that could help cure arthritis, vision and brain disease. Find out more here.
Youth Environment Council applications open
Applications are now open for Green Adelaide’s Youth Environment Council (YEC) program for young people aged between 11 and 17 years old across South Australia.
YEC is yearly program targeted at teens and pre-teens to boost their environmental knowledge and leadership skills through a fun camp, workshops, online forums and the delivery of an end-of-year environmental project. Participants choose a wide range of environmental actions to focus on in the program. Click here for more information.
Broken at MOD.
This new interactive exhibition explores the widespread feeling that the world is broken, and nothing will change. From the fight against climate change to the housing crisis, we seem to be struggling, but what if we imagined new ways of being?
See how trees might vote in politics, explore how learning could mean more, hear a voice from 60,000 years in the future, put nature first and challenge the housing system.
BROKEN at MOD. is open from 16 Jan – 22 Nov 24. Find out more here.
Prime Minister's Prizes for Science Teaching
The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science recognise demonstrated excellence in scientific research, research-based innovation and excellence in science teaching.
By nominating someone you know who has made a meaningful contribution to science, innovation or science teaching – at any career stage – you are acknowledging the value they bring to their field of work.
Nominations can be made by peers and colleagues across science and innovation sectors, and science, technology and mathematics teaching communities.
Questacon: Engineering is Elementary is coming to SA!
Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to enhance your teaching skills and to inspire students through STEM? Apply now to participate in our FREE Engineering is Elementary ‘Taking the Plunge: Designing Submersible’, professional learning workshops.
Our workshops will build your confidence and capacity to teach STEM in
your classroom through:
- Getting hands-on experience with the activities in our integrated
- STEM units of work,
- Learning how to build student knowledge of STEM content and
- develop teaching strategies to meet the learning needs of your
- students, and
- Gaining the confidence to teach STEM in your classroom through the
- engineering design process.
Murray Bridge - 19 February
Victor Harbor - 21 February
McLaren Vale - 23 February
Adelaide - 28 February
For more information click here.
Science Animation use study
The University of the Sunshine Coast is seeking teachers currently teaching Grades 5-10 Science in Australia (or those who have taught these Grades in past 3 years) to take part in research studying the use of animations.
Participants will be asked to complete an anonymous online survey (approx. 20 minutes) and will have the chance to win a $20 voucher. For more information click here or email queries to rmorrison@usc.edu.au.
Ethics approval: A231996
Future Science Talks: Comedy Edition
Inspiring SA is a proud supporter of Future Science Talks, which is coming to the Adelaide Fringe. Eighteen brave scientists are undertaking a series of workshops to create a talk that is 80% science and 20% humour to be delivered at the Adelaide Fringe.
Find out more and purchase tickets here.
Contact SASTA
South Australian Science Teachers Association
249 Henley Beach Road Torrensville SA 5031
P 08 8354 0006 F 08 8354 0008 E office@sasta.asn.au
www.sasta.asn.au
