2026 STANSW Conference Program

Taking science teaching into the future, together.

Day 1: Friday 12 June

Time Session Title Audience Focus
8am – 9am

Registration & Networking
9am – 9:20am
Welcome Plenary: Professor Linda Beaumont

Deputy Dean of Education & Employability, Macquarie University Faculty of Science and Engineering. 
What remains Human: Teaching Science in the Age of AI. 
In a world where AI can generate answers in seconds, what does it mean to be a scientist, and what should we be teaching? This keynote shifts the focus from technology to humanity, exploring the deeply human qualities at the heart of science: curiosity, judgement, creativity, responsibility, and collaboration. It offers a hopeful reframing of science education, where the goal is not just knowledge, but helping students see themselves as capable contributors in a rapidly changing world.
9:20am – 9:30am
Welcome from our 2026 Platinum Sponsor: Powerhouse
9:30am – 10am
Keynote: Dr Vanessa Pirotta

Australian Wildlife Scientist; Premier’s NSW Woman of Excellence 2025 Lecturer, Faculty of Science & Engineering at Macquarie University
10am – 10:30am

Morning Tea / Exhibits
10:30am – 11:40am
WORKSHOP BLOCK 1
Investigating Science from a First Nations perspective – Josh Nichols & Jessica Menendez, Sydney Zoo
All Secondary Teachers
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Perspectives
Taming the AI Dragon: Demystifying the Science of Generative AI – Roger Kennett, International Grammar School
All Secondary Teachers
Future-Focused Skills
Navigating the new Stage 6 science syllabuses: Key changes, core ideas and implementation support – Maninder Kaur, DoE NSW
Stage 6 Science Teachers (Chemistry)
Subject-Specific Deep Dives
Navigating the new Stage 6 science syllabuses: Key changes, core ideas and implementation support – Hannah Frater & Ben Surwald, DoE NSW
Stage 6 Science Teachers (EES)
Subject-Specific Deep Dives
Bringing Biodiversity to Life with Online Science Resources – Dr Jessica Boomer, Macquarie University
All Secondary Teachers
Pedagogy & Practice
12:00am – 1:00pm

Lunch, Sponsor Exhibition & Networking
1:00pm – 2:10pm
Workshop Block 2
Chemistry in Stage 4 and 5 – Pascale Warnant, Tara Anglican School For Girls, North Parramatta
All Secondary Stages (Chemistry)
Subject-Specific Deep Dives
Strengthening disciplinary pathways: Aligning Years 7–10 Science with senior secondary success – Hannah Frater, DoE NSW
All Secondary Stages (EES)
Pedagogy & Practice
Navigating the new Stage 6 science syllabuses: Key changes, core ideas and implementation support – Chris Bormann & Ming Fang, DoE NSW
Stage 6 Science Teachers (Physics)
Subject-Specific Deep Dives
Navigating the new Stage 6 science syllabuses: Key changes, core ideas and implementation support – Daljit Bansal & Sham Nair, DoE NSW
Stage 6 Science Teachers (Biology)
Subject-Specific Deep Dives
Developing Peer Instructions for live teaching sessions – Dr Karol Binkowski, Macquarie University, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
All Secondary Teachers
Pedagogy & Practice
2:10pm – 2:30pm

Afternoon Break
2:30pm – 3:40pm
Workshop Block 3
Not All AI Is Created Equal: Designing a Biology GPT Students Can Trust – Marie Serratore, Rosebank College
Stage 6 Science Teachers (Biology)
Future-Focused Skills
Not So Fantastic Plastic – Sophia McLean, Georges River Environmental Education Centre
All Secondary Stages (EES / INS)
Pedagogy & Practice
Exploring the Medicinal and Nutritional Properties of Customarily Used Australian Plants – Joanne Jamie & Renee Cawthorne, Macquarie University
All Secondary Stages (Bio, Chem, Sci Ext)
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Perspectives
Using real data and statistics to investigate ozone – Bridget Murphy & Julie Mulholland, ANSTO
All Secondary Stages (Chem, Phys, EES, INS)
Future-Focused Skills
Strengthening disciplinary pathways: Aligning Years 7–10 Science with senior secondary success – Maninder Kaur, DoE NSW
All Secondary Stages (Chem)
Pedagogy & Practice
Working scientifically in action: Teaching and assessing inquiry skills in NSW Science 7–10 – Sham Nair & Bronwyn Gilmore. DoE NSW
7-10 Science Teachers
Pedagogy & Practice
3:50pm – 4:20pm
Afternoon Plenary:

Science drawing for meaning making. Dr Hye-Eun Chu, Sarah Hajma, Andy Citra, Kiano Pomente, Anna Mang, Macquarie University.
4:30pm – 5:30pm

(Optional) Science After Dark: Big Demos, Bright Minds

Day 2: Saturday 13 June

Time Session Title Audience Focus
8am – 9am

Registration & Networking
9:00am – 9:30am
Keynote: Patricia Gadd, Science Program Leader, ANSTO

High-Resolution Environmental and Food-Provenance Science for a Changing Australia: Innovations from ANSTO’s Environment Research 
Australia faces accelerating environmental pressures from water scarcity and catchment degradation to shifting climate regimes and increasing demand for sustainable, traceable food systems. ANSTO’s Environment research program delivers unique scientific capabilities to address these challenges, applying advanced nuclear, isotopic, and high-resolution analytical techniques to understand how landscapes, ecosystems, and agricultural systems respond to change. This keynote will highlight how Environment’s integrated research from sedimentary archives to modern production systems supports evidence-based management of Australia’s natural and food resources.

 
9:30m – 10:00am

Sponsored Sessions
10:00am – 10:30am

Networking
10:20am – 10:40am

Morning Tea & Sponsor Exhibits
10:40am – 11:40am
WORKSHOP BLOCK 1 (60mins)
Ochres and Tools – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Uses of Geological Materials – Sophia McLean, Georges River Environmental Education Centre
All Secondary Stages
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Perspectives
Sponsor Session: Future-Proofing Your Students with Data Skills: Starting Now – Chloe Marie & Elise Kovacs, Stile Education
All Secondary Stages/ experience levels
Future Focused Skills
Strengthening disciplinary pathways: Aligning Years 7–10 Science with senior secondary success – Chris Boreman & Min Fang, DoE NSW
All Secondary Stages (Physics)
Pedagogy & Practice
Scientific Thinking for All: A Toolkit UC Berkeley – Ben Koo & Emlen Metz, Virtual Presentation from the University of California, Berkeley
All Secondary Stages/ experience levels
Future Focused Skills
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Get Real: transform classrooms into dynamic spaces for authentic scientific learning – Katherine Barbeler, and Byrne LaGinestra, Gosford High School
Stage 6 Teachers
Pedagogy & Practice
11:50am – 1:00pm

Lunch / Exhibits / Networking

STANSW AGM
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Workshop Block 2 (60mins)

Teach Meet:

  • Aboriginal Science – Marianne Lavidis, Sir Joseph Banks HS
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives – Ecological and Geological Knowledge -Sophia McLean, Georges River Environmental Education Centre
  • Launching Energy Literacy – creating empowered members of a sustainable energy future – Erica Gibbs, Snowy Hydro – Snowy STEM Academy
All Secondary Stages/ experience levels
Teach Meet
Stage 4 & 5 -Depth study & Scientific skills – Sylvia Persis, Wycliffe Christian School
Early Career Teachers
Pedagogy & Practice
Developing data science skills in secondary science: Teaching, embedding and assessing with purpose  Sham Nair and Chris Bormann, DoE NSW
All Secondary Stages/ experience levels
Future Focused Skills
Astronomy, a Gateway Science into STEM using Real Data – Robert Hollow, CSIRO
All Secondary Stages (Phys, INS, Sci Ext)
Pedagogy & Practice
2:10pm – 3:10pm
Workshop Block 3 (60mins)
AI and Metacognition – An iterative tool – Siran Galeb, Rosebank College
All Secondary Stages (Experience Teachers)
Future Focused Skills
Sponsor Session: Introduction to Advanced Microscopy in the Classroom: Resourcing Teachers to Boost Engagement and Outcomes – Jessica Jones, Inspire STEM Education Australia
All Secondary Stages (Bio, Chem, Phys)
Pedagogy & Practice
Data Detectives: A Disease Depth Study Case Study – Stella Ding & Sheree Jeyanarayanan, The Ponds High School
All Secondary Stages (Bio, Chem, Phys)
Future Focused Skills
Strengthening disciplinary pathways: Aligning Years 7–10 Science with senior secondary success – Sham Nair, DoE NSW
All Secondary Stages (Biology)
Pedagogy & Practice
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3:20pm – 4:20pm
Afternoon Plenary:

What happens when we allow students to use GenAI during their exams – Prof Deborah Richards & Dr Charanya Ramakrishnan, Macquarie University
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STANSW 2026 Conference: The Future of Science Education

Hooray!

STANSW is a NESA recognised provider. Each day may be logged as up to 5.5 hours of accredited professional development. Standards addressed: 2, 6 and 7. 

Conference 2026 is sponsored by: Powerhouse, Macquarie University, Nelson, Anzuk Education, Cambridge, Inspire STEM Education, Stile Education, Matilda Education, Biozone and Sydney Zoo. At STANSW Conference, you can chat to our sponsors and exhibitors, AusEco and Pearson, to source the latest science education resources.