Award Guidelines
About the award
The Competition Rules
Registration & Entry
Announcement of the winners
The Awards Presentation
NYSYA 2010 Poster (free download)
Contact
About the award
The NATA Young Scientists of the Year Award started in 2007 to foster an interest in science among schoolchildren, and in response to concerns that Australia's scientific expertise in decline. Now in its fourth year, the competition encourages students to look at how science impacts on people's lives.
Every school across Australia is invited to submit a science project in the competition to win cash prizes to purchase science equipment. This year's theme is Darwin's Theory of Evolution.
The NATA Young Scientists of the Year Award initiative to encourage young scientists is strongly supported by Senator Kim Carr Federal, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
The aims and purpose of the competition are:
- to promote to children the benefits and value of science.
- to provide students with the opportunity to participate in science on a national platform.
- to encourage students to apply their creativity to scientific solutions.
- to demonstrate the importance of good presentational skills in science.
The Competition Rules
Registration and entry to the NATA Young Scientists of the Year Award is free and open to individuals and class-groups in Years 5, 6 and 7.
The theme of the competition is Darwin's Theory of Evolution, and students are asked to submit a project of their choice that demonstrates this theory. Entries will be judged on their standards of innovation, research and presentation.
Each submission should contain a title, and include a written element and a visual element. The written element would consist of 300 to 500 words detailing the projects aims, execution and results. For the visual element, entrants can submit their projects in any of the following forms:
- Pictures and words in an A4 or A3 scrap book style
- A maximum 5-minute video or DVD presentation
- A demonstration model or apparatus
- Computer graphics or other digital media
- Poster 841mmx591mm in landscape or portrait
- A diorama no larger than A3 on its platform no higher than 210mm.
All submitted materials must be wholly designed and produced by the entrant. There is no limit to the number of entries that can be submitted to the Award from one school.
The entries will be judged by a team of NATA scientists from a range of scientific disciplines. The judges decision will be final.
Registration & Entry
Each a teacher or principal can register a school group or an individual using a registration form, either by post or online by 7 May 2010.
Postal registrations should be sent to NYSYA 2010, NATA Communications Department, PO Box 7507, Silverwater, NSW 2128.
Each registrant will receive a NYSYA 2010 Confirmation Email, containing a submissions form. All submitted projects must be sent to the above address accompanied by a completed submissions form, to be received no later than 2 August 2010.
NATA cannot accept any responsibility for postal costs or damage to submitted entries.
Announcement of the winners
Winners will be informed by telephone to a teacher or principal of the school. Photographs of the winning entries will be posted on the NATA website at www.nata.com.au
The winners will also be announced to national, regional and local media. NATA will liaise fully with winning schools prior to any announcement to media. No names, addresses or other information connected to the school or its pupils will be disclosed to media without prior consent of the school. NATA will seek to provide full cooperation with the schools, if required, in respect of handling media enquiries.
In addition, schools (with permission of their Department's media unit) may like to use award applications to promote themselves to the local media. Publicity of this nature provides an opportunity to highlight the practical and fun side of science.
The Awards Presentation
Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges. The total prize pool is valued at $15,000 to be donated towards the purchase of science equipment for use in the winning schools of the top three winning entries, allocated on the following basis: 1st prize, $10,000; 2nd prize, $3,000; 3rd prize, $2,000.
The three winning entrants will also receive a framed certificate, and every accepted entrant will receive a certificate. Judges will also award smaller prizes to other commended entries at their discretion. The top entries will also be on public display at the Awards Presentation and later at NATA’s offices.
Due to the public nature of the competition, all winners of money prize awards will be required: (i) to spend the money within eight months of receiving it; (ii) to only spend the money only on the purchase of science equipment (including delivery costs) for the purpose of science education at the recipient school; (iii) to provide NATA on request with a receipt of the purchase(s) to at least the full amount of the prize money, along with any other proof of purchase requested by NATA; (iv) to agree that NATA reserves the right to withhold or withdraw the prize from the recipient if the above terms are not meet, or a serious breach of the Award Guidelines has occurred. The decision of the NATA board in these matters will be final.
The winners will be invited to Sydney for an Awards Presentation, hosted by the ‘Surfing Scientist’ Ruben Meerman at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, on 17 August, 2010, in front of a live audience.
Transport to the Awards Presentation will be arranged and paid for by NATA (along with overnight accommodation, if necessary) for a party representing the winning project, consisting ONLY of one student, one parent/ guardian, and either one teacher, one principal or one other approved staff member.
Additional representatives of the winners are most welcome to participate fully in the awards presentation. NATA is happy to provide full assistance with transport and accommodation arrangements, but cannot accept any costs for additional members of the party.
Contact
If you have any questions regarding the NATA Young Scientists Award, please contact:
Denise Popovic or Steven Jones
NATA Communications
National Association of Testing Authorities
Phone: (02) 9736 8222
Fax: (02) 9743 6664
Email:
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