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The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are Australia’s most prestigious and highly regarded awards for (amongst others) excellence in science teaching.

The prizes recognise the achievements and success of Australian scientists and innovators to both Australia and internationally, as well as the critical role science educators play in inspiring and encouraging students to take an interest in science and consider science as a career.

There are two prizes for science teaching (referred to as the Science Teaching Prizes).

Science Teaching Prizes

• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools
• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools.

These prizes are awarded to teachers who have made an outstanding contribution to science education.

A prize nomination must be proposed by someone (a nominator) with knowledge of the nominee’s achievements and endorsed by two supporters. Nominators for the Science Prizes must also provide three independent referees.

Prize money of $50,000 is awarded to the recipents of the:

• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools
• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools.

Recipients of the Science Teaching Prizes share the prize money with their school to fund a project that enhances science learning.

Photo: Leah Moore teaching science to primary pre-service teachers at the University of Canberra

To be eligible to be nominated for a Science Teaching Prize a nominee must:

• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia
• have undertaken their teaching achievement for which they are nominated, in Australia
• not be self-nominated
• be a full time staff member at a primary or secondary school and be active in teaching science in the classroom at the time of their nomination. For a secondary school teacher, science teaching must be a substantial part (at least 0.5 full time equivalent) of their workload.

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