Prime Minister’s Prizes for Excellence in Science Teaching Winners

Two public system teachers have taken out this year’s Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching, Mr Daniel Edwards from Montello Primary School in Tasmania has received the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools and Ms Alice Leung from Concord High School has won the Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools.

Ms Leung takes an innovative approach to teaching and draws upon real-life issues (e.g., ecology, food security and health) to teach abstract concepts in practical ways. Leung is passionate about promoting STEM to students from a range of backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and culturally and linguistically diverse students. She creates programs to enable students to access technical scientific vocabulary, catering especially for the 70% of students at Concord High School from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Ms Leung also provides teachers in her school and nationwide with resources to excite students about STEM. She works with government, industry and academic experts to better equip students and connect teachers with STEM knowledge.

“I’m a very curious person and that’s why I love science. My passion for science teaching started when I was very young and my high school science teacher inspired me to become a science teacher.

“At Concord High School, we embrace the culture of our students who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. When we are learning about astronomy, we integrate their history and knowledge in terms of how they’ve used the stars to navigate the skies, which is different to western science.

“I’m very passionate about encouraging girls to participate in STEM subjects. We run a Minecraft Club to allow female students to explore coding for game design and understand how mathematical concepts are represented in a digital environment.”

Ms Marguerite Evans-Galea, Director, Catalyst, AusBiotech & Medicines Australia, one of the nominators who put Leung’s name forward for recognition, says, “Ms Leung’s influential leadership, advocacy and broad engagement captures people from varied disciplines, cultures and lived experiences. Her voluntary peer support is an exceptional contribution to Australian education. This impressive engagement reflects her unwavering commitment to STEM but more importantly to our students, her colleagues and peers, to teaching and to Australia’s future.

“Ms Leung’s innovative approach modernises the STEM curriculum in content, process and strategy, futureproofing both student and teachers as they gain knowledge and skills that are in high demand across Australian organisations.”

Ms Leung participated in the Connected Communities initiative, a NSW Government program to design project-based STEM experiences. The initiative supports cultural and learning needs for schools with high proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and she advises government on initiatives to better equip students and teachers with STEM knowledge and skills for the future, such as how to use generative AI to enhance learning.

She has received awards at a regular clip including a 2022 STELR Grant from the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and an Innovative Use of Technology Award, from the NSW Department of Education in 2011.

Mr Daniel Edwards from Montello Primary School in Tasmania won the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools. Edwards developed a STEM and Digital Technologies Program resulting in unprecedented engagement and achievement for his students of all abilities and backgrounds.

Edwards has inspired many students to overcome challenges and win awards in STEM at state, national and international levels and is also the founding CEO of GreenSTEM Education, Tasmania’s first STEM education-focused charity. The charity’s purpose is to advance education by providing equitable access to STEM education for young people and the wider community, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.

GreenSTEM Education’s flagship program is Greenpower where young people work in teams to design, build and race a single-seater electric vehicle.

Edwards also runs STEM Unlimited, a free after-school club hosted at the Burnie Community House, Tasmania. This is also a GreenSTEM Education initiative, open to all students across the region.

“I take a student-centred approach to STEM education. I aim to empower my students to apply their learning to solve relevant problems, create projects they’re passionate about, and connect to their experiences.

“One of the best things about my job is seeing STEM education break down barriers so that students can achieve amazing things. One of the most encouraging pieces of feedback I’ve ever received was a note from a student who said I help make things come true that they didn’t even realise were possible.”

Nominator Mr Dan Langford, Kitchen Garden and Sustainability Teacher and Co-ordinator, Montello Primary School says, “Mr Edwards implements highly effective teaching and learning strategies that inspire students of all abilities to engage with STEM learning, with many of his students choosing to pursue further STEM learning opportunities in their own time.

“Despite the many barriers facing his students, Mr Edwards enables all students to experience success in STEM, leading a culture where students believe that STEM empowers them to overcome challenges to achieve their aspirations.”

Edwards has also won the 2024 ACEL TAS Teacher Leadership Award, Australian Council for Educational Leaders Tasmania Branch and in 2024 the Toyota Community Trust STEM Teacher Scholarship, Toyota Community Trust & Public Education Foundation. He was also the 2023 Primary Educator of the Year, Design and Technology Teachers’ Association Victoria (DATTA VIC).