Australian Science Innovations

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Media release: 14 September 2011   Celebration of success for young science students .
58 of Australia’s top performing Year 7 to Year 12 science students will be presented with a national award at a special ceremony to be held at Australian Parliament House this Thursday 15 September.

Media release: 28 July 2011   Australians victorious at International Science Olympiads.
Thirteen of the country's brightest secondary school students have returned home from the International Science Olympiads in triumph, having collectively secured twelve medals.

Media release: 15 June 2011   New Chair for Australian Science Innovations.
Australian Science Innovations (ASI) has welcomed Ms Anne Semple as its new Chair of the Board. Ms Semple has taken over the role just as the Australian Science Olympiad teams prepare to head overseas to represent the nation at the 2011 International Science Olympiads in biology, chemistry and physics.

Media release: 2 June 2011   Science and Mathematics Olympiad teams announced.
Twenty-three of Australia's exceptionally talented high school science, mathematics and informatics students will strive for gold medals when they represent their country at the UNESCO-sanctioned International Science and Mathematical Olympiads in July this year.

Media release: 24 November 2010   Celebration of success for young science students
Some of Australia's top performing high school science students will be presented with a national award by Dr Bruce Kelley, Rio Tinto's Global Practice Leader for Environment, at a special Awards Ceremony to be held at Parliament House on 25 November. Guests will also be honoured by an address by the Minister for Schools Education, Early Childhood and Youth, the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP.

Media release: 24 November 2010   Congratulations Debra Smith: Winner of PM's Prize
Australian Science Innovations (ASI) warmly congratulates one of its Board Members, Debra Smith, for winning the prestigious Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools. According to ASI's Chair, Mark Toner, the award is just recognition for Debra’s outstanding contribution to secondary science education.

Media release: 26 August 2010   New Director for Australian Science Innovations
Australian Science Innovations (ASI), organisers of the Australian Science Olympiads and the Rio Tinto Big Science Competition in schools across Australia, today announced the appointment of a new Executive Director. Ms Lillian Lesueur will take up the position immediately. ASI Chair Dr Mark Toner said his Board was delighted to appoint a person with the skills and business experience of Ms Lesueur.

Media release: 2 August 2010   Australians victorious at International Science Olympiads
Thirteen of the country's brightest stars have returned home from the International Science Olympiads in triumph, having collectively secured 11 medals and two honourable mentions. The Year 11 and 12 students were selected to represent Australia based on their outstanding efforts in a series of challenging exams and training sessions thanks to funding from the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, MSD and Monash University. The Olympiads took place in Korea (Biology), Croatia (Physics) and Japan (Chemistry) throughout July.

Media release: 8 June 2010   Science and Mathematical Olympiad teams announced
Twenty six of Australia's best and brightest high school students in science and mathematics will be going for gold at the International Science and Mathematical Olympiads in July and August this year. Professor Penny Sackett, Australia's Chief Scientist, will officially announce the Olympians today and present them with their Australian Team blazers at a special ceremony in Parliament House, Canberra. Teams for Biology, Chemistry, Informatics, Mathematics and Physics will compete against similarly gifted students from more than 100 countries in competitions taking place in Korea, Japan, Canada, Kazakhstan and Croatia respectively.

Media release: 2 June 2010   Athletic minds compete for Olympic gold
Sixteen 'athletic minds' from schools around the country will take on the world's best at the 2010 International Science Olympiads in a bid to bring home gold for Australia. As the rising stars of Australian science, these year 11 and 12 students will compete against hundreds of similarly gifted pupils from across the globe in chemistry, physics and biology competitions thanks to funding from the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, MSD and Monash University. The events will take place in Japan, Croatia, and Korea in July this year.

Media release: 19 April 2010   Executive Director to leave ASI
The last 15 months under Mr Gascoigne's leadership has re-focussed attention on further development of ASI's major programs, and the organisation is now on a more durable footing. Dr Mark Toner, Chair of ASI, thanked Mr Gascoigne for his contribution to ASI's national goals of encouraging students to study science and consider careers in science and science-based professions, for raising ASI’s public profile and for improving ASI's programs. &hellip

Media release: 9 March 2010   Big Science - Big launch!
The Rio Tinto Big Science Competition has a new look for 2010. Mr Toss Gascoigne, Executive Director of Australian Science Innovations (ASI) said he was delighted to announce a new partnership with Australia's foremost educational research organisation. "We have contracted the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to develop the Competition questions and analyse the results," he said. "Questions will be based on the new Australian Science Curriculum, and will test students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills, the methods of scientific inquiry and their knowledge of science concepts."

Rio Tinto Big Science Competition
27 November 2009: The Rio Tinto Big Science Competition will be held on Wednesday 1 September in 2010. This year's Grade 10 students who gained top scores in the Competition were invited to the ANU in Canberra for a presentation ceremony and a tour of the campus. November newsletter.

New Board members for ASI
18 November 2009: Four new Members have been appointed to the Board of Australian Science Innovations Big Science. Dr Mark Toner, Chair of ASI, welcomed Ms Gunilla Burrowes, Dr Nick Hagan, Ms Debra Smith, and Associate Professor Keturah Whitford to the Board.
ASI Board members.

Dr Alan Finkel at the National Press Club
19 August 2009: " … My plan has three components - we need to cultivate student interest by exposing them to well-taught, compelling science.; we need to advertise science careers, so our science-based industries reveal the rich suite of career opportunities … "
Alan Finkel's speech.   Press Club photos.

Big Science Presentation
18 August 2009: Innovation and Science Minister Kim Carr spoke to the top-ranked students at the National Big Science Presentation Ceremony at the ANU: "Studying science doesn't just teach us facts about the world. It teaches us how to think."
Senator Carr's speech.   Presentation photos.

Media release: 18 August 2009   A search for the next generation of scientists
Australia is engaged in a race to keep up with growing international demand for scientists and technologists, but interest at school level continues to flag. Where will the next generation of Australian scientist come from? Dr Alan Finkel will set out his solution in an address to the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday (19 August). &hellip

Media release: Awards presented to young science students
Fifty five top performing science students will be presented with an award by Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr in Canberra on Tuesday (18 August). All students gained a perfect score in the Rio Tinto Big Science Competition, a national science competition open to students from Grade 7 to 12. They are coming to Canberra from all over Australia for the presentation. &hellip