Website of the Month
on 01/07/2021
Each month we will be featuring a website with useful resources to use in your classroom. If you have any recommendations to add, send us an email! July 2021 Fizzics Education Huge library of resources for FREE, including science experiments, podcasts and STEM teaching articles. Over 100 Free science experiments...
Science Excursions
on 01/07/2021
Each month we will be featuring an excursion that you might find useful to get your students out of the classroom! If you have any recommendations to add, send us an email! July 2021 Duke at the Zoo Most teachers know all about the Australian Curriculum linked learning experiences, events...
1993/1994 Oliphant Science Awards Trophy Winner – Mark Hodson
on 29/06/2021
by Mark Hodson I was the first two-time winner of the Oliphant Science Awards, entering on both occasions in the computer category. The recognition and the opportunities that came with the award helped cement my love of systematic problem solving and computer programming, leading to an engineering career with international...
CONASTA 69
on 08/06/2021
CONASTA is the annual science education conference of the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA). In 2021 CONASTA will be hosted by the Science Educators’ Association of the Australian Capital Territory (SEAACT) and will be held from 26-29 September. The CONASTA 69 theme of ‘Science Revealed’ has been chosen to inspire...
SASTA Journal
on 03/06/2021
SASTA Members please be aware that unfortunately the publication of the mid year SASTA Journal has been delayed. We expect publication in late August.
Meet a Tall Poppy
on 01/06/2021
The Young Tall Poppy Science Awards are run by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS) to honour up-and-coming scientists who combine world-class research with a passionate commitment to communicating science. The awards have been running since 1998 and there are now over 800 Tall Poppy alumni across Australia. ...
SASTA: How it all began...
on 04/05/2021
04 May 1951: Initial meeting declaring the establishment of a South Australian Science Teachers Association "A faded letter can be found within archival material in the State Library provided by SASTA’s first female President, Thelma Pike. The letter, addressed to one Roy Stanhope, begins, ‘Cast your bread upon the waters....
Premier's Reading Challenge
on 03/05/2021
SASTA and the Oliphant Science Awards are proud to be partnering with Inspiring SA and the Premiers Reading Challenge (PRC) to support this year’s STEM Reading and Design Challenge. The challenge encourages students to read about Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in the lead up to Science Week. The...
The Evolution of the Annual Conference
on 23/03/2021
The Annual Conference over the years... SASTA held many professional learning events in its early years, however the first reference to 'the Annual SASTA Conference' was mentioned in the June 1971 Journal. The first Annual Conference was convened by Deane Hutton, Science TV presenter, and cost $1.00 for members and...
Memories from the Oliphant Science Awards
on 12/03/2021
Short stories from years gone by... Dr Matthew Sorell Senior Lecturer, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Adelaide I built a speech synthesiser in 1985 (possibly 1986) which won in whichever category it was in. Back then, speech synthesis was quite primitive and I was using a...
1981 Oliphant Science Awards winner - David Tilley
on 02/03/2021
by Dr David Tilley BSc (Hons) PhD Winning the inaugural Oliphant Science Awards in 1981 was a defining moment in my life. It led to many opportunities that I could only dream of. I undertook my entry into the Oliphant Science Awards while in Year 12 at the Mount Gambier...
Science at the Fringe
on 22/01/2021
Science at the Fringe For the Fourth year, the Adelaide Fringe is excited to collaborate with Inspiring South Australia on the return of the Science at the Fringe Guide! The Science at the Fringe Guide is for anyone and everyone who loves to ponder, wonder, wander, imagine, dance, smile and...
St Augustine’s Parish School STEM Expo
on 11/12/2020
During Term 3 the students at St Augustine explored the Science Week theme Deep Blue: Innovations for the Future of our Oceans. Each class has investigated an aspect of the ocean and all of the amazing and wonderful creatures who call it home. We have also been investigating how we...
Science Teaching Placements Required
on 27/11/2020
Placements for secondary science pre-service teachers The University of South Australia is seeking support for secondary placements in term 1 of 2021. These placements are delayed 2020 placements due to COVID 19 and the preservice teachers must complete their placement in term 1 so as not delay their graduation in...
SASTA Honour Award Winner
on 16/11/2020
Congratulations to Yvonne Zeegers, the 2020 SASTA Honour Award Recipient! Honour Awards are designed to recognise a SASTA member’s contribution to SASTA. Yvonne’s long and distinguished contribution to SASTA relates to the functions of both the Board and the Awards subcommittee. Yvonne has both promoted and supported the teaching of...
Bringing Nature to the Classroom
on 28/10/2020
It is fair to say that 2020 has been an interesting year for educators and many new alternatives have been required for teachers to deliver their outcomes to students. In previous years many classes would go on excursions to see wildlife and learn about our environment but due to restrictions,...
The Great South Australian Fossil Debate
on 16/10/2020
For this year’s National Science Week, several palaeontologists from Flinders University and the University of Adelaide got together to discuss and debate which of several time periods in the South Australian fossil record was the most awesome! The event was hosted by singing palaeontologist Professor Flint of Dinosaur University, and...
Robotic Engineering at Pulteney Grammar School
on 04/09/2020
Year 10 students at Pulteney Grammar School were given the opportunity to undertake some Robotic Engineering classes. The platform for experimentation was the Lego Minstorm EV3 kits as these are easy to use, construct and program, which gave more time for the engineering design process. Four Themes were set up:...
Always Question, Always Wonder: Science Week 2020
on 01/09/2020
Gleeson College embraced the theme, 'Deep Blue: innovations for the future of our oceans' by hosting several exciting events. Our aim was to foster a passion for this meaningful topic by engaging students through external presentations and activities led by our experienced science teachers. To showcase why this subject is...
Mount Gambier High School - National Science Week
01/09/2020
This year the Mount Gambier High School Science Faculty dove deep into the 2020 National Science Week theme, ‘Deep Blue: Innovations for the future of our oceans’. This provided students with an opportunity to celebrate the pivotal part oceans play in life on the planet, to consider how we can...
National Science Week at SASTA
on 18/08/2020
Check out a few of the activities we're trying for National Science Week in the SASTA office! Have you seen the ASTA National Science Week Resource Booklet? There are a range of Standalone activities for Science Fairs as well as Problem Based Learning Tasks for National Science Week for each...
2020 National Science Week
on 10/08/2020
What do you have planned for National Science Week this year? Check out some of the great activities we've come across. Let us know what you have planned to feature on our National Science Week round-up blog! Plus don't forget to check out the National Science Week website for all...
ACARA News
on 07/08/2020
Review of the Australian Curriculum The Australian Curriculum is being reviewed. The aim of the review is to improve the Australian Curriculum from Foundation to Year 10 by refining, realigning and reducing the existing content of the curriculum. Find out more here: https://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/curriculum-review/ Updating STEM ACARA has refreshed its STEM...
Book Donation | One in Four Children Inc.
on 17/07/2020
SASTA recently donated 1150 Biology books to One in Four Children Inc. to be sent to schools in the Nuba Mountains, Sudan. Find out more about how this organisation came to be and how these books will be put to use from founder, Stephen Kamal below. I recall back then,...
Credit Union SA / SASTA Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of Science Award Winners
on 29/06/2020
We're excited to announce the winners of the 2020 Credit Union SA / SASTA Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of Science Award! Primary - Jade Tinney, Salisbury Park Primary School Middle years - Samantha Brown, Mount Gambier High School Senior Secondary - Catherine O'Halloran, Cabra Dominican College Find out more...