Australian Museum Eureka Prizes

The Holmes à Court - UTS Eureka Prize for Science Teaching is awarded to a secondary science teacher who has motivated and inspired their students to become involved in student-centred investigation, where students seek answers to scientific questions posed by themselves and set in real world contexts.

The focus of this prize is on work undertaken by a teacher that impacts on the science participation and performance of students in the teacher's school. This 'curiosity-driven learning' must be undertaken as part of the school's science teaching and learning program. It could be part of classroom programs or could include inspiring and encouraging students to pursue learning in science as an exercise in itself - through local community projects, industry or work placements, science enrichment program or entries for competitions.

While judges will consider activity by an entrant that has a wider impact among students generally, or that impacts indirectly on students through work such as curriculum development, the bulk of the entrant's submission should relate to activity that has had a direct and demonstrable impact on the students taught by the entrant at their school.

The Holmes à Court - UTS Eureka Prize for Science Teaching is designed to reward activity by secondary science teachers that is in accord with the National Professional Standards for Highly Accomplished Teachers of Science developed by the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA) - in particular Standard 6 relating to Professional Practice. This Standard relates to how teachers develop knowledge of science and scientific thinking skills through engaging students in active scientific inquiry. These scientific thinking skills include: