2024 Young Scientist Award winners announced and celebrated
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Budding Young Scientists from across NSW were recognised at the 2024 Young Scientist Awards Ceremony at The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) on Friday, with Barker College student, Tim Wilson, awarded Young Scientist of the Year for his project “Cuddle & Comfort Chimp: An Innovative Robotic Sleep Device”.
This is the 32nd year of the Young Scientist Awards Program, which celebrates the scientific and technical innovations of K-12 school students around the state. Since 1992, the program, run by the Science Teachers’ Association of NSW, has been encouraging students to undertake innovative projects and investigations to find creative solutions to real-world problems.
At the awards ceremony, over 100 students received awards for their science projects, including awards for Young Scientist of the Year, Rural Young Scientist of the Year as well as category awards across Scientific Investigation, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environment and Technological Innovation. Over $20,000 worth of prizes were awarded and contributed by program sponsors Rowe Scientific, The Australian National Maritime Museum, Australian Skeptics, AIP, AARNet, ASBMB and STEP.
29 nominees were announced for the National ASTA i3 awards, with representation spread across 14 regions of the state.
President of The Science Teachers’ Association of NSW, Amy Ayres, says the Young Scientist Awards provide an incredible platform for students to showcase their scientific curiosity, thinking and creativity.
“Scientific inquiry has always been a cornerstone of societal, political and geospatial advancement, driving innovations that shape our world and improve our lives. From breakthroughs in healthcare to sustainable energy solutions, the work of scientists plays a pivotal role in addressing global challenges and advancing civilization. In Australia, nurturing the next generation of scientists is vital to ensuring continued progress, and events like this are crucial for fostering talent and passion for discovery among young students.
“By participating in the Young Scientist Awards, students not only gain recognition for their hard work but also open doors to potential career pathways in science and technology. The awards encourage critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, all of which are essential for the future of Australia’s scientific and technological landscape.”
2024 Young Scientist of the Year: Winning Projects
Tim Wilson, Barker College, Cuddle & Comfort Chimp: An Innovative Robotic Sleep Device
Sleep problems can be disruptive to both the sufferer and their family members. Tim designed a device in the form of a soft toy that could provide comfort to a child during the night by mimicking the breathing and hugs of a parent. The device also incorporated a CO2 sensor to gather breathing data to monitor sleep. A key challenge was to maintain the softness of the toy while hiding the components needed to provide motion and power.
Zihan Luo, James Ruse Agricultural High School, Investigating the feasibility and effectiveness of 3D printed integrated strain sensors printed vertically using inflexible thermoplastics
Zihan was interested in the way that strain sensors can be used to monitor and optimise the performance of smart devices. He built and tested sensors that were integrated into the objects as they were produced using a 3D printer. Batches were manufactured using a range of materials and techniques. The results of testing showed these devices have great potential.
Matthew Young, Barker College, Sub-surface venturi aerator for the prevention of algal blooms
Algal bloom is a common problem in waterways across Australia, disrupting ecosystems and water supplies. Matthew’s brief was to create a prototype of a venturi aeration robot that would prevent the growth of algae. The final device used a solar panel in combination with a battery floating above the water, with the nozzle for the aerator under the surface to deliver air for oxygenation.
Dorothy Koo, William Carey Christian School, Unreinforced perfluoro sulfonic acid ion-exchange membranes and lower brine concentrations in chlor-alkali electrolytic cells
Chlor-alkali electrolysis is an industrial process used to produce chlorine and sodium hydroxide. The process is energy intensive, and the student investigated cost-effective alternatives to existing equipment. Dorothy used 3D printing to create her own ion-exchange membrane and tested it in electrolysis. The more economical set-up resulted in a higher yield of product.
2024 Rural Young Scientist of the Year, presented by Passionately Curious
George Wakem, Kinross Wolaroi School, The impact of gelatine to alginate ratio on the fidelity and printability of bionics in simulated biological environments
Organ replacement is a challenging health problem with difficulties in sourcing human organs and preventing rejection by the host. Bioprinting is a potential solution to this. George examined the role of different ratios of components on the accuracy of the 3D object, finding that a 3:1 ratio of gelatine to alginate was best.
Rural Primary Young Scientist of the Year
Hamish McMillan, Armidale City Public School, How to Spot a Robot
Hamish investigated how well people can identify AI images when put under time pressure. He used 12 AI-generated images and 12 real images and surveyed 464 people across a range of ages. The data Hamish collected showed that participants correctly identified AI images more accurately (72%) than the real ones (64%). Time pressure seemed to not affect accuracy.
Young Scientist of the Year – Primary Top Entry
Lucy Oates and Benjamin Oates, Sapphire Coast Anglican College, A Combustible Contest
Lucy and Benjamin investigated if a room was heated more effectively with a vent supplying air directly to a fireplace, instead of it being drawn in from the room as in a standard fireplace. They built a model room and fireplace for testing. The results showed that when the vent was air to the fireplace the room was heated up more effectively than when the vent was supplying air to the room, although the difference was not as big as they expected.
Budding Young Scientist Award
Keira Peng, PLC Sydney, How to Dyna-mite Dusty’s Poos
All Young Scientist Award winners:
| Prize | Place | Project title | Student Names | School name for booklet/ppt |
| Year K-2 Scientific Investigation Category Award | Great Grandma’s Tap Temperature Pitch Puzzle | Abigail Jones, Helen Bolton, Teresa Cannon | Redeemer Baptist School | |
| Year K-2 Scientific Investigation Category Award | The Ultimate Worm Master | Clover Ng | PLC Sydney | |
| Year K-2 Scientific Investigation Category Award | How to Dyna-mite Dusty’s Poo | Keira Peng | PLC Sydney | |
| Year K-2 Scientific Investigation Category Award | A Berry Sour Experiment | Penelope Prangell | PLC Sydney | |
| Year K-2 Scientific Investigation Category Award | Achoo – A Fight Against Allergens | Libby Tan | PLC Sydney | |
| Year K-2 Scientific Investigation Category Award | Microbes in Watery Worlds: A 5 year old’s investigation into Microbes in Water and How to Kill Them | Elysia Roselle Woo | St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School | |
| Year 3-4 Scientific Investigation Category Award | The Beeway | Joshua Brigham, Samuel Rowell | St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School | |
| Year 3-4 Scientific Investigation Category Award | ITS CRYSTAL CLEAR: EXPLORING HOW DIFFERENT TYPES OF WATER AFFECT CRYSTAL GROWTH AND STRUCTURE | Freya Callard | Queenwood Junior School | |
| Year 3-4 Scientific Investigation Category Award | The Science of Lip Balms | Elanor Civardi | PLC Sydney | |
| Year 3-4 Scientific Investigation Category Award | A Chlorine Shield to Curb Shrinkage | Chloe Metledge | PLC Sydney | |
| Year 3-4 Scientific Investigation Category Award | Make Like a Chicken and Stay Dry? | Elizabeth Ong-Ly | PLC Sydney | |
| Year 3-4 Scientific Investigation Category Award | Just Hanging Around: An 8 year old’s investigation into Grey Headed Flying Foxes, Counts and Peer Knowledge | Annabelle Gervaise Woo | St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School | |
| Year 5-6 Scientific Investigation Category Award | Fruit and Veg: Which Wash Has the Edge? | Harriet Godfrey | Castle Cove Public School | |
| Year 5-6 Scientific Investigation Category Award | Are we unknowingly exposing ourselves to harmful levels of radiation through antiques (Specifically Uranium and Radium)? | Myla Kontominas | St John Bosco Catholic Primary School | |
| Year 5-6 Scientific Investigation Category Award | Silent but Deadly | Aslan Louie | Sapphire Coast Anglican College | |
| Year 5-6 Scientific Investigation Category Award | How To Spot A Robot | Hamish McMillan | Armidale City Public School | |
| Year 5-6 Scientific Investigation Category Award | Mirror, Mirror on the Wall – Which Product Prevents Dehydration of my Skin Best of All? | Romilly Merani | PLC Sydney | |
| Year 5-6 Scientific Investigation Category Award | A Combustible Contest | Lucy Oates, Benajmin Oates | Sapphire Coast Anglican College | |
| Year 7-8 Biology Investigation Category | 3rd place | Strawberry Storage Shenanigans | Kayla Chiu | Meriden School |
| Year 7-8 Biology Investigation Category | 2nd place | Wireless vs Non-Wireless: Which type of Apple In-ear Headphones is best for avoiding hearing loss? | Abbie Gregory | PLC Sydney |
| Year 7-8 Biology Investigation Category | 1st place | Optimizing Water Use in Agriculture: Investigating the Impact of Greywater Irrigation on Lettuce Growth and Pigment Composition | Téa Costin | MLC School |
| Year 9-10 Biology Investigation Category | 3rd place | Could dog saliva be an antibacterial and what makes it better? | Isabelle Bosshard | PLC Sydney |
| Year 9-10 Biology Investigation Category | 2nd place | Hormonal Highways: The Connection Between Menstrual Cycles and Visual Reaction Time | Ruby Dickerson | Loreto Kirribilli |
| Year 9-10 Biology Investigation Category | 1st place | Can Native Australian Fruits Tenderise Meat? | Sienna Colosi | PLC Sydney |
| Year 11-12 Biology Investigation Category | 3rd place | Comparing the Consumption and Depolymerisation of Expanded Polystyrene, Low-Density Polyethylene and High-Density Polyethylene by Tenebrio Molitor | Yeshaya Ram | William Carey Christian School |
| Year 11-12 Biology Investigation Category | 2nd place | Assessing the Developmental Neurotoxicity of Paracetamol to Central Nervous System-Regenerating Freshwater Planarians, Dugesia dorotocephala | Joshua Ghali | Gosford High School |
| Year 11-12 Biology Investigation Category | 1st place | Fractal Fingerprinting: Utilising the fractal dimension to height ratio of leaf venation structure as a novel morphological characteristic for plant taxonomy | Anubhav Ammangi | Redeemer Baptist School |
| Year 7-8 Chemistry Investigation Category | 3rd place | Tangled | Emilia Ghaly | Meriden School |
| Year 7-8 Chemistry Investigation Category | 2nd place | Which type of cow’s milk produces the casein plastic that can support the greatest mass. | Amelie Elias | Loreto Kirribilli |
| Year 7-8 Chemistry Investigation Category | 1st place | Does the fat content of cow’s milk affect the resultant mass of coagulation? | Madeline Papadopoulos | PLC Sydney |
| Year 9-10 Chemistry Investigation Category | 3rd place | Brewing Trouble: Investigating Microplastic Release from Sydney’s Popular Tea Bags | Xinyue (Kitty) Liu | PLC Sydney |
| Year 9-10 Chemistry Investigation Category | 2nd place | Tensile Strength of Chitosan based composites with different biopolymers | Anastasia Mouzos | PLC Sydney |
| Year 9-10 Chemistry Investigation Category | 1st place | Does Boba Pearl compositions impact break down in a simulated stomach model | Rose Tan | PLC Sydney |
| Year 11-12 Chemistry Investigation Category | 3rd place | Non-Precious Metal Oxide Coated Carbon Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Generation | Elana Zhang | Lambton High School |
| Year 11-12 Chemistry Investigation Category | 2nd place | Investigation into the performance of conventional and non-conventional developers visualising latent fingerprints | Amanda Paynter | Lambton High School |
| Year 11-12 Chemistry Investigation Category | 1st place | Unreinforced perfluorosulfonic acid ion-exchange membranes and lower brine concentrations in chlor-alkali electrolytic cells | Dorothy Koo | William Carey Christian School |
| Year 7-8 Earth & Environmental Science Investigation Category | 1st place | Which Oil is most Effective at the Removal of Microplastics | Rebecca Li | PLC Sydney |
| Year 9-10 Earth & Environmental Science Investigation Category | 3rd place | Hot Pavers Down Under: Cracking the Code to Cool Sydney’s Urban Heat Island | Louisa Warren | Loreto Kirribilli |
| Year 9-10 Earth & Environmental Science Investigation Category | 2nd place | Organic Heating: Using Compost to Heat Water in Homes | Emily Barrett | PLC Sydney |
| Year 9-10 Earth & Environmental Science Investigation Category | 1st place | Analysis of Soil and grass clippings as a lining to reduce the leakage and breakdown of compostable FOGO caddy bags | Alice Swimburn | PLC Sydney |
| Year 11-12 Earth & Environmental Science Investigation Category | 3rd place | From Medicine to Ecosystem: Testing the effects of exposure to Gold and Silver Nanoparticles on Plant Growth Parameters Root Length, Stem Length, Germination Percentage, Leaf Development and Stem Diameter | William Roberts | Green Point Christian College |
| Year 11-12 Earth & Environmental Science Investigation Category | 2nd place | Driving towards healthier air. Invention of a new device to optimise air quality for vehicle occupants in the tunnels of Sydney: The Car Canary | Ellie Cole | PLC Sydney |
| Year 11-12 Earth & Environmental Science Investigation Category | 1st place | Box modelling the transfer of sulfur on Mars using Earth as a geochemical analogue. | Cathy Zhang | James Ruse Agricultural High School |
| Year 7-8 Physics Investigation Category | 3rd place | How The Structure and Arrangement of Paper Affects How Much Mass it Can Hold Before Bending | Olivia Loo | PLC Sydney |
| Year 7-8 Physics Investigation Category | 2nd place | Gone with the Wind | Alicia Seward | PLC Sydney |
| Year 7-8 Physics Investigation Category | 1st place | Pink Brown White Sound? Lights Out | Karmichael Candra | Redeemer Baptist School |
| Year 9-10 Physics Investigation Category | 3rd place | Taking Shark Skin For A Spin: Can shark-dendrite-inspired vortex generators reduce heavy vehicle fuel consumption? | Lily Rofail | PLC Sydney |
| Year 9-10 Physics Investigation Category | 2nd place | An investigation into plantar pressure distribution | Neomi Verma | Abbotsleigh |
| Year 9-10 Physics Investigation Category | 1st place | The Solar Glass Window – Developing the use of chlorophyll as a dye in a Dye-Sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and designing a transparent DSSC for application in buildings and windows | Jasmine Civardi | PLC Sydney |
| Year 11-12 Physics Investigation Category | 3rd place | Mean Signal Intensity as a Function of Azimuth at the Parkes Observatory | Thomas Varga | St Aloysius’ College |
| Year 11-12 Physics Investigation Category | 2nd place | Investigating the feasibility and effectiveness of 3D printed integrated strain sensors printed vertically using inflexible thermoplastics. | Zihan Luo | James Ruse Agricultural High School |
| Year 11-12 Physics Investigation Category | 1st place | Visualising Potential Atmospheres on LHS 1140 b Through Computer Simulations of NIRISS/SOSS Transmission Spectroscopy for Future JWST Analysis | Jonathon Zhong | James Ruse Agricultural High School |
| Year K-2 Technological Innovation Category Award | Designing a Soundproofing Tap Recording Box (STRB) | Abigail Jones, Helen Bolton, Teresa Cannon | Redeemer Baptist School | |
| Year K-2 Technological Innovation Category Award | Sens-O-Safe | Aaron Tung, Zachary Woo, Genevieve Leung | Arden Anglican School | |
| Year 3-4 Technological Innovation Category Award | Using Science to Solve the Challenges of Science: The Problem of Condensation on Petri Dishes Solved | Mia Bogovic | St Ambrose Catholic Primary School | |
| Year 3-4 Technological Innovation Category Award | The Pointypro | Ruby Waples | PLC Sydney | |
| Year 5-6 Technological Innovation Category Award | UV Activated Carbon Water Purification System | Sophia Fang | PLC Sydney | |
| Year 5-6 Technological Innovation Category Award | The Ball Bot Invention | Alexander Mu, Richard Li, Rohan Mundkur | Barker College Junior School | |
| Year 7-8 Technological Investigation Category | 2nd place | Catch more rain with a gutter! | Michael Croxford | Sapphire Coast Anglican College |
| Year 7-8 Technological Investigation Category | 1st place | Water Sensors – Does the Surface Area of Copper Boards Impact the Time to Trigger an LED? | Gemma Maggs | Northern Beaches Christian School |
| Year 9-10 Technological Investigation Category | 3rd place | Jet Propulsion filter | Olivia Kim | Meriden School |
| Year 9-10 Technological Investigation Category | 2nd place | Antelope Heater | Miriam Shin | Meriden School |
| Year 9-10 Technological Investigation Category | 1st place | The Solar Glass Window – Developing the use of chlorophyll as a dye in a Dye-Sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and designing a transparent DSSC for application in buildings and windows | Jasmine Civardi | PLC Sydney |
| Year 11-12 Technological Investigation Category | 3rd place | Cuddle&Comfort Chimp: An Innovative Robotic Sleep Device | Tim Wilson | Barker College |
| Year 11-12 Technological Investigation Category | 2nd place | Sub-surface venturi aerator for the prevention of algal blooms | Matthew Young | Barker College |
| Year 11-12 Technological Investigation Category | 1st place | Future Energy Generation Systems Through the Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) of Nuclear Isotopes and its Fusion Through Quantum Tunnelling | Ibrahim Ozcan | Al Noori Muslim School – Senior Campus |
| STANSW Encouragement Award – Primary | Bombs Away | Jonathan Ireland | Sapphire Coast Anglican College | |
| STANSW Encouragement Award – Primary | POV you step on LEGO | Mia Korpi-Brown, Lily Evason, Caylenne Sasminta | St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School | |
| STANSW Encouragement Award – Primary | What Makes Grass Grow Fastest | Charles Cooper | St John Bosco Catholic Primary School | |
| STANSW Encouragement Award – Secondary | Determining the Quenching Mechanism of a Coumarin Fluorophore by Ascorbate: Experimental Confirmation of the Inner Filter Effect | Nevada Guiance | PLC Armidale | |
| STANSW Encouragement Award – Secondary | REDUCING FUEL CONSUMPTION BY ALTERING WING SWEEPBACK IN PASSENGER AIRCRAFT | Sophie Hirschhorn | Loreto Kirribilli | |
| STANSW Encouragement Award – Secondary | The impact of gelatine to alginate ratio on the fidelity and printability of bionics in simulated biological environments | George Wakem | Kinross Wolaroi School | |
| STANSW Encouragement Award – Secondary | The Alternative Synthesis Route to Acetaminophen Potentially from Plastic Waste and Petrol | Ibrahim Ozcan | Al Noori Muslim School – Senior Campus | |
| STANSW Encouragement Award – Secondary | INVESTIGATING THE INFLUENCE OF SOIL SALINITY ON DUNG BEETLE PRODUCTIVITY | Liliana Clarke | St Columba Anglican School | |
| STANSW Encouragement Award – Secondary | Recycled variation of a stealing engine model | Emily Knight | Kooringal High School | |
| Year 7-8 Science Communication Award | Serissa Snow Leaves | Mila Ballantyne | Parkes Christian School | |
| Year 7-8 Science Communication Award | Mary Poppins goes to Ikea | Xavier Louie | Sapphire Coast Anglican College | |
| Primary Environment Award | 1st place | Just Hanging Around: An 8 year old’s investigation into Grey Headed Flying Foxes, Counts and Peer Knowledge | Annabelle Gervaise Woo | St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School |
| STEP Environmental Award- Secondary | 1st place | Investigation into the change in microplastic abundance along the Eastern coast of Australia, from 2018 to 2024 | Beatrix Farley | Loreto Kirribilli |
| ASBMB Molecular Biology Award | 1st place | Characterising the relationship between subcellular localisation of poly(A)-binding proteins and nascent mRNA abundance upon transcriptional perturbation and its effect on hepatocellular cancer prognosis | Andrew Williams | St Aloysius’ College |
| AARNet Mathematics Award- Primary | 1st place | Mirror, Mirror on the Wall – Which Product Prevents Dehydration of my Skin Best of All? | Romilly Merani | PLC Sydney |
| AARNet Mathematics Award- Secondary | 1st place | Heavy Lifting Investigating the Effect of Mass on Rocket Altitude | Michael (Ted) Boss | Cranbrook School |
| AARNet Use of Technology Award- Primary | 3rd place | Great Grandma’s Tap Temperature Pitch Puzzle | Abigail Jones, Helen Bolton, Teresa Cannon | Redeemer Baptist School |
| AARNet Use of Technology Award- Primary | 2nd place | The Ball Bot Invention | Alexander Mu, Richard Li, Rohan Mundkur | Barker College Junior School |
| AARNet Use of Technology Award- Primary | 1st place | Are we unknowingly exposing ourselves to harmful levels of radiation through antiques (Specifically Uranium and Radium)? | Myla Kontominas | St John Bosco Catholic Primary School |
| AARNet Use of Technology Award- Secondary | 3rd place | The Solar Glass Window – Developing the use of chlorophyll as a dye in a Dye-Sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and designing a transparent DSSC for application in buildings and windows | Jasmine Civardi | PLC Sydney |
| AARNet Use of Technology Award- Secondary | 2nd place | Sub-surface venturi aerator for the prevention of algal blooms | Matthew Young | Barker College |
| AARNet Use of Technology Award- Secondary | 1st place | Investigating the feasibility and effectiveness of 3D printed integrated strain sensors printed vertically using inflexible thermoplastics. | Zihan Luo | James Ruse Agricultural High School |
| AIP Best Physics Investigation – Primary | 3rd place | Wire Wilt: How do light-emitting diodes fade as temperature increases? | Alice Mou | Meriden School |
| AIP Best Physics Investigation – Primary | 2nd place | Swinging Pendulums | Marcus Nicholas | St Michael’s Catholic Primary School |
| AIP Best Physics Investigation – Primary | 1st place | Drag Racer Dynamics | William Henwood, Beau Sheppard | Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School |
| AIP Best Application of Physics – Secondary | 3rd place | Investigating the feasibility and effectiveness of 3D printed integrated strain sensors printed vertically using inflexible thermoplastics. | Zihan Luo | James Ruse Agricultural High School |
| AIP Best Application of Physics – Secondary | 2nd place | The Solar Glass Window – Developing the use of chlorophyll as a dye in a Dye-Sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and designing a transparent DSSC for application in buildings and windows | Jasmine Civardi | PLC Sydney |
| AIP Best Application of Physics – Secondary | 1st place | Taking Shark Skin For A Spin: Can shark-dendrite-inspired vortex generators reduce heavy vehicle fuel consumption? | Lily Rofail | PLC Sydney |
| Budding Young Scientist Award | How to Dyna-mite Dusty’s Poo | Keira Peng | PLC Sydney | |
| Rural Primary Young Scientist | A Combustible Contest | Lucy Oates, Benajmin Oates | Sapphire Coast Anglican College | |
| Primary Young Scientist | How To Spot A Robot | Hamish McMillan | Armidale City Public School | |
| Rural Young Scientist Award | 2nd place | Determining the Quenching Mechanism of a Coumarin Fluorophore by Ascorbate: Experimental Confirmation of the Inner Filter Effect | Nevada Guiance | PLC Armidale |
| Rural Young Scientist of the Year | 1st place | The impact of gelatine to alginate ratio on the fidelity and printability of bionics in simulated biological environments | George Wakem | Kinross Wolaroi School |
| Young Scientist of the Year | 4th place | Unreinforced perfluorosulfonic acid ion-exchange membranes and lower brine concentrations in chlor-alkali electrolytic cells | Dorothy Koo | William Carey Christian School |
| Young Scientist of the Year | 3rd place | Sub-surface venturi aerator for the prevention of algal blooms | Matthew Young | Barker College |
| Young Scientist of the Year | 2nd place | Investigating the feasibility and effectiveness of 3D printed integrated strain sensors printed vertically using inflexible thermoplastics. | Zihan Luo | James Ruse Agricultural High School |
| Overall Young Scientist of the Year | 1st place | Cuddle&Comfort Chimp: An Innovative Robotic Sleep Device | Tim Wilson | Barker College |