Welcome to the February edition of The GiST newsletter!
We have some exciting website and content updates for you in our first edition of 2023.
But first, a joke!
Q: How does a mathematician plough fields?
A: With a pro-tractor. 🚜
The GiST has had a makeover
If you’ve visited The GiST recently, you might have noticed something different. Our home page has been given a new look, navigation has been simplified, and we’ve added fifteen new lesson plans.
We hope you find navigating the site so much quicker and easier, and we look forward to hearing what you think!
New-look home page
Our home page has been given a refresh and now provides easy access to the three main sections of our website: students, educators, and families.
You’ll also find a new section called ‘Latest stories from women in STEM’ where we’ll showcase the amazing work of women in STEM careers, and just below that we’re highlighting new and popular resources on site.
Students
Love science, technology, engineering and maths? Find a career that loves you back. |
Educators
All industries benefit from a diverse workforce. So, inspire girls to stick with STEM. |
Families
You shape your daughter’s subject and career choices. Stay informed about her opportunities. |
Simple navigation
To simplify navigation on site, we have updated the main menu, changed some page names, and moved content around to make it easier for you to find what is important to you.
Each of the sections of our website can now be identified by a specific colour: purple for students, orange for educators and green for families.
New lesson plans
As part of the site update, we’ve also released fifteen new lesson plans!
We’ve added a thought-provoking lesson on bias in STEM careers, designing simple machines and visualising climate change. Check them out!
Years 5–6
In this lesson, students are inspired by the life, work and times of Rube Goldberg to learn about simple machines and design and create a Rube Goldberg machine to complete a simple task. Find out more!
Years 7–8
This lesson gives students an opportunity to explore the ways women have been written out of science history, and to take action to highlight the importance of diversity in STEM. Bookmark this lesson.
Years 9–10
Students explore local temperature and rainfall datasets using different approaches to data representation, with the aim of engaging audiences with scientific data. Check this lesson out!
Women in STEM
Cecilia Villacorta-Rath, Research Officer
Cecilia shares with The GiST how a fascination with natural sciences as a child led her to a career in freshwater research.
'Follow your heart and dream big because everything is possible.'
First Nations woman tackling climate justice
Amelia Telford, Bundjalung and South Sea Islander woman, has gone from strength to strength in her fight for climate justice. After being awarded the National NAIDOC Youth of the Year in 2014, Amelia co-founded Seed, an Indigenous youth-led climate network. In 2022 Seed become an independent entity, elevating voices of First Nations peoples and campaigning for a ban on fracking in the Northern Territory.
We thought you might like to share the work of Seed with any interested Indigenous youth you know.
2023 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science
Nominations for the 2023 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are now open.
The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science recognise accomplishments in scientific research, research-based innovation and science teaching.
If you know a dedicated and passionate teacher in primary or secondary school, nominate them for one of the Science Teaching Prizes.
For further information or to nominate, please visit business.gov.au/scienceteachingprizes.
Nominations close at 5:00 pm AEDT on Thursday, 9 February 2023.
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