Message from the Association

Happy National Science Week, there is so much going on around our state and the nation to celebrate the very subject that we love. I hope that these festivities, of all things science, are bringing some respite in the face of continued lock downs and teaching from home. 

I know many of you have been able to join us for our 70th Anniversary - 7 Decades in 7 Days virtual celebrations. Registration is free and will stay open throughout the month.

Step inside this virtual world and explore the many elements of our celebrations, there are numerous videos and podcasts throughout the site, in our Exhibition Hall we have 16 stalls where science education initiatives and our event partners have showcased some great work they are doing in schools and sharing resources. Our Lounge is set up for networking, where you can join the networking chat and engage with other participants in the event, our 7 events are viewed from the Auditorium and most available on demand after they have taken place. As always our friendly office staff are in the Info Stall ready to help you via the chat function, and as an added bonus there is a technical support chat monitored by VFairs if you're having any trouble.  Don't miss out on celebrating this milestone with us, it's lots of fun - register now and drop into the event site at any time.   

• This Wednesday is Day 3 of 7 Decades in 7 Days, we'll be hearing from three pioneering women in cancer research working with the Garvan Institute at 12.30pm

• Thursday - Day 4, we'll be exploring the intersection of scientific advancement and questions of social and ethical implications with the Powerhouse Museum in a talk facilitated by Prof. Fred Watson. 

• Friday - Day 5 Virtual Friday Night Drinks with the Australian Museum, where we'll hear from our Federal Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley, the Chief Scientist at the Australian Museum, Prof Kris Helgen and Dr Karl will kick off  our 70s fun games night exploring 70s science and music. 

• Saturday - Day 6 is a family fun day with Taronga Zoo, grab the kids and join us for a talk on animal conservation and some action based lessons. 

• Sunday Day 7, our final day we'll get a virtual walk through of the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum and get to talk with experts in nuclear science and green energy about the world's future energy sources.

A special invitation to you, our science teaching community,  to join us for the After Party in the Lounge when our Day 7 talk finishes up, be sure to join us. 

I do hope you and your students are coping during this challenging period, it's not easy, but please remember you're not alone, there is support, networks and friendships all within reach. 

I have noticed some people have been adding to our Online Tools Padlet, if you haven't explored this in awhile there may be some new useful resources here - https://padlet.com/STANSW/OnlineTools

We also have our collection of videos we recorded when we went into lockdown in 2020 on our website with useful tips and tricks for teaching online
 - https://www.stansw.asn.au/Web/Resources/Online-Teaching-Series/Web/Resources/Online-Teaching-Series

I hope to see you all at some point in our virtual event site for 7 Decades in 7 Days - Come celebrate with us. 

Yours in Science

Jane Powles
Executive Officer

Feature Section

UTS Short Course: Drivers of Chemical Reactions

This online course is suitable for chemistry teachers or those aspiring to become chemistry teachers. It is particularly targeted to the NSW syllabus which is mapped to the Australian Curriculum.

The aim of the course is to upskill teachers beyond the requirements of their students. This will give teachers the confidence to address the needs of their students, see connections between topics and address the needs of those students more capable. 

 Young Scientist: Key Dates to Remember

Our 2021 STANSW Young Scientist Competition is open now and deadline closes Friday 17th September.  There are many resources to support Primary and Secondary Teachers, find Primary resources here and Secondary resources here .  Good luck to everyone submitting projects, we are looking forward to seeing the amazing work your students are doing.  

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Association News

7 Decades in 7 Days A Celebration

We hope that you are enjoying #7DecadesIn7Days. Whilst sad we cannot be with you all it is an incredible alternative using cutting edge technology to create a space where we can explore, network and engage.  Read what's still to come and our event highlights from Days 1 and 2 that you can catch up on in the event platform. Click on "More Info" to read more.

Register Now for Stage 6 Conference

We invite all secondary science teachers to join us online this coming October 12-13 for our Stage 6 Conference.  Connect with your fellow Stage 6 teachers, educators, researchers, and practitioners to fine-tune our approach to the present syllabuses for all courses. See our full program and register now!

Rosemary Hafner Scholarship -Submit Your Application

We are honoured to be the custodians of the Rosemary Hafner Memorial Scholarship Fund, the fund was formed in 2008 in memory of the significant contribution made by Rosemary Hafner to science education; to support and assist both metro and regional science teachers in NSW with their professional development.

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SEN3: Call For Article Submission

Got a great idea - we'd love to hear it. We are looking for teachers who are willing to share a lesson plan or teaching idea with our community in Science Education News (SEN) 
We welcome articles on research, resources and ideas for the classroom. Click More Info to submit and for submission details.

Other News & Updates

 HSC Biology Modules 1-8 by BioZone  

Biozone Learning Media Australia, has announced the long-awaited arrival of two new HSC Biology titles for Year 11 (Modules 1-4) and Year 12 (Modules 5-8) written specifically for the New South Wales Biology Stage 6 syllabus. Make sure to check them out.

 Scholarship Opportunities - NSW Department of Education

Science and mathematics teachers play a critical role in the lives of students, providing the problem-solving and analytical skills needed to thrive in a complex and changing world.

The NSW Department of Education is committed to supporting the teaching and learning of STEM subjects in NSW public schools, and each year offer a range of scholarship opportunities to support future and current teachers in becoming the best teachers they can be.

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Resources & More

National Science Week 2021

It's that time of the year again where we can celebrate the very subject we all love. National Science Week offers a range of online events, virtual tours, DIY science
and more, all across Australia, from 14 - 22 August.

Climate Change 6th Assessment Report

The 2021 report by Working Group 1 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the 6th Assessment report (AR6), is a comprehensive assessment of the physical science associated with climate change.

The ARC Centre for Excellence for Climate Extremes has written a summary briefing of the report with a focus on Australia.  

Food: Different By Design A First Nations Perspective of
Food and Agriculture

Our national federated body ASTA has developed a resource in collaboration with First Nations Peoples for National Science Week exploring the theme of food, the resource explores a First Nations perspective of food and agriculture.  

Narragunnawali Reconciliation in Education

Narragunnawali has developed a suite of early learning, primary and secondary curriculum resources to promote reconciliation and to strengthen children and students’ knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions.
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