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March 2024
Happy International Women's Day! Today we would like to celebrate our amazing Executive Officer, Kate Dilger, who has now been at SASTA for 11 years and is an invaluable member of this science community.
The SASTA Board would like to congratulate Kate Dilger on her reappointment as the SASTA Executive Officer. Kate continues to demonstrate a strong passion and enthusiasm for improving Science education in South Australia, as well as ensuring our members are well looked after.
There is so much going on in our science community! Make sure you scroll all the way down to find out more!
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
2024 SASTA Awards
Should your name be on this list or perhaps one of your colleagues? Time to nominate for a SASTA Award is running out. Nominations close on Monday!
SASTA would like to acknowledge, and celebrate the amazing teachers in our science community. Find out more about the awards or nominate yourself or a colleague here.
Get to know our 2023 SASTA Award Winners - Ross Riach and Sarah Todd here.
SASTA Journal Editor
Download the full position description here.
Expressions of interest close on 1 May.
SASTA members are invited to submit an expression of interest for an exciting role as SASTA Journal Editor.
The role will suit an individual with an enthusiasm for exploring, promoting and sharing the wealth of science education focused events and resources in SA among SASTA members. You might be a Science Educator, Science Communicator or Science-interested Journalist, or you may have a demonstrable interest in any of these areas. You will have a passion for sourcing unique and accurate content for each edition and for striving to continually develop the SASTA Journal in terms of its quality, relevance, and reputation.
For the right candidate, this is a remunerated position (per each edition). For Teacher candidates, the editor role gives Professional Engagement experience at the Highly Accomplished and/or Lead level, Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
Professional Learning
The program is here! And registration is now open.
We're excited to welcome Tiahni Adamson, Young Australian of the Year (SA), as one of our Keynote Speakers! Plus there are 7 Cutting Edge Presentations and over 40 Workshop Sessions to choose from. Find out more and register here.
Fusetec, Advanced Surgical Training Clinic is a 25x bed surgical training clinic for residents and surgeons to rehearse complex surgical procedures, and continually upskill. The clinic is a world first cadaver free surgical training environment, where surgeons can train without being exposed to potential harmful bacteria.
This excursion was run as a part of CONASTA 70, you can check out some attendee comments below and on the website.
- 3D printed body parts for surgical training wow. What an entrepreneur, what out of the box thinker.
FREE for SASTA Members! Don't miss out!
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.
Members FREE Webinar Series
The Mega Guide to Teaching Science: 50 hints and tips for seriously fun learning
10 April 2024, 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Make your science lessons seriously fun and epically effective with this interactive compilation of 50 hints and tips. Be prepared to have lots of fun, be interactive, collect a ton of ideas and plan your entire next term's worth of lessons in 20 minutes!
Embedding gamification, innovation, immersion and storytelling into science lessons to engage and inspire
15 May 2024, 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm
This course is designed for all teachers to provide the tools and strategies to promote and harness the benefits of engagement, embed immersive, gamified and storytelling strategies in your lessons and create a love of science through innovative practices.
With the drive for embedded capabilities, STEM engagement and uptake and the rapidly evolving world around us, engaging students in science can be a challenge. We as teachers are often challenged by time to update or innovate our practice and the array of misconceptions or attitudes circling pedagogical best practices and outcomes.
This course is designed for all teachers to provide the tools and strategies to promote and harness the benefits of engagement, embed immersive, gamified and storytelling strategies to your lessons and create a love of science through innovative practices.
Oliphant Science Awards
New & Country Schools Incentives
New Schools Incentive
Schools who have not participated in the past five years needing assistance for participation in the Oliphant Science Awards are eligible to apply for support. With the provision of up to $200.00 allocated towards entry project registration fees. Find out more here.
Country Schools Bursary
Country and regional schools needing assistance for participation in the Oliphant Science Awards are eligible to apply for the Country Schools Bursary. A bursary of up to $500 will be administered as a lump sum granted to the school to be spent at the OSA Coordinators discretion in support of student participation in the 2024 Oliphant Science Awards competition. Find out more here.
Resources
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
Early STEM Education Awards 2024
Little Scientists is thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of our 4th Little Scientists Early STEM Education Awards, Australia’s only dedicated awards to celebrate STEM excellence in early childhood education. Our biennial awards proudly recognise the early childhood educators and early primary teachers driving STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths — education for children aged 0-7 years across Australia.
Little Scientists Early STEM Education Awards has two categories:
Category 1. Excellence in Early STEM Education Award recognises early learning services & early primary classrooms.
Category 2. Outstanding Early STEM Education Leader Award recognises early childhood educators & early primary teachers.
Find out more or nominate a teacher via the website.
Day of AI
Day of AI introduces the basics of AI to students in Years 5 - 10! The hands-on, creative and easy-to-teach activities are designed to be delivered by any teacher (no digital technology specialisation required). Equip your students with a foundational understanding of AI, how it works, its risks and limitations, empowering them to be responsible and ethical users and designers of AI systems. Our comprehensive resources for teachers require no additional preparation and lessons are aligned with the Australian Curriculum v9. Best of all, the program is completely free! Give your students an unforgettable introduction to AI. Register today to bring Day of AI to your classroom in Term 2.
Workshops from the University of Adelaide
Diversity Outreach Programs – Women in STEM
The Young Women in STEM Program provides girls with the opportunity to meet current women studying STEM while undertaking a range of engaging hands-on activities, taught by university experts, while spending the day at the University of Adelaide Campus. Our goal is to empower young women to take the leap into the exciting world of STEM. Showing them their ability to achieve success in their chosen field and introduce them to amazing women who are doing just that. Find out more here.
Energy, Mining & Resources School Outreach (EMRSO)
Building upon the inaugural events in 2023, the EMRSO program is excited to once again offer two full-day, immersive on-campus experiences for students in Years 9 through to 12. Students will have the opportunity to get
hands-on in activities run by university academics, speak 1-1 with industry professionals and discover where a career in the energy, mining and resources sector could lead!
Year 9 & 10 On Campus Day
Date: Wednesday 12 June
Register here.
2024 SA Science Excellence + Innovation Awards
The search is on for South Australia’s top scientists, researchers, innovators and educators.
Celebrating 20 years, the 2024 SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions and achievements of our best and brightest STEMM professionals, and shine a well-deserving spotlight on the social, economic, health and/or environmental impacts of individuals and teams.
Applications close Friday 26 April. Find out more here.
City Nature Challenge
The City Nature Challenge is on once again! In 2024, Adelaide, South Australia will be participating in the City Nature Challenge for the fifth time.
Join the project and help us compete with cities from around the world by making the most nature observations possible from Apr 26th 2024 - Apr 29th, 2024.
During the 4-day challenge, if you are anywhere in the Greater Adelaide region, snap a photo of any wild plant or animal and upload it to iNaturalist platform, making sure to include the location.
National Science Week: Teacher Resource Book
The school theme for National Science Week in 2024 is Species Survival - More than just sustainability. The theme aims to highlight the importance of science and innovation in ensuring the survival and thriving of different species in an ever-changing world.
Download the free Species Survival teacher resource book (17.5 MB, pdf) and the companion student journal (4.8MB, pdf). There is also a flipbook version of the resource book. A listing of the web links in the book is also available if you are using a printed copy of the book.
National Science Week - School Grants
Have a great idea for National Science Week at your school, but need help with funding it?
Visit asta.edu.au to find out how schools can apply for up to $500 to support your National Science Week activity/event.
Applications for the 2024 school grant round are open now!
CONASTA 71
The call for abstracts for CONASTA 71 is extended for two weeks!
Be a part of this influential national science education gathering by submitting your abstract. This is a great opportunity to showcase your research, insights, and innovations in advancing science education.
This year, CONASTA 71 is scheduled in Melbourne on 7-11 July with the theme "Perspectives: Science Educators Shaping Tomorrow".
Join CONASTA 71 as an exceptional opportunity for educators, researchers, and professionals to contribute to science teaching and education discourse.
Submit your abstract now: conasta71.stav.org.au
i3 Science Awards Fair
LIVE NOW! Come and explore the incredible student finalist entries into our ASTA i³ Awards! Visit https://bit.ly/3SVUwab where our virtual science fair is happening now.
Botanic Gardens Teacher Professional Learning
Trail Day | Tuesday 23 April
Join our incredible Botanical Educators for a day in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, as they lead you through three of our updated trails! Let our expert botanical educators guide you through the Gardens and be inspired with fresh ideas on how to deliver outdoor nature experiences.
Water in the Curriculum | 24 April
Hear from three South Australian institutions in this informative and hands-on teacher professional development workshop around water in the curriculum!
Join Educator Jade from SA Water, Wendy from Green Adelaide and Researcher Chelsea Novice from the State Herbarium to learn some new skills that you can transfer to in-class learning sequences.
Find out more and register here.
Nominate a Young Future Shaper to explore more!
CSIRO is seeking nominations for Year 5-10 students to become ‘Young Future Shapers.’
25 Future Shapers will boost their confidence, skills, and connection with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) through a personalised support program. They’ll explore their area of interest (and others); meet experts and likeminded young people at STEM events and camps; or discover more with their own prize pack.
This free program prioritises opportunities for young people from underrepresented groups in STEM, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, those from regional or lower opportunity areas, and girls. For more information and to submit a nomination, head to www.csiro.au/YoungFutureShapers
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
