DeadlyScience Awards

Celebrating the Brightest Young Minds and Boldest Educators in STEM

Program Overview

Objective

DeadlyScience wishes to encourage continued interest in STEM related topics by rewarding students who show a keen interest in STEM learning as well as educators who go above and beyond to integrate STEM learning into the classroom

Program outline

Teachers will be encouraged to nominate those students they believe satisfy the behaviours listed in the Assessment Criteria. The nomination will include at least one STEM interest of the student (ie dinosaurs, space)

Each year, the nominations will be assessed and winners selected. The teacher will announce the prize winner at a class or school assembly. The prize will be forwarded to the student. Schools will be encouraged to take photos and prepare a report of the prize giving process. Photos will need to be accompanied by an image permission form.

Our awards program now also recognises educators who go above and beyond to Our STEM Educator of the Year will be awarded a $250 Modern Teaching Aid voucher for classroom resources, a DeadlyScience book pack, an award to honor their achievements, and a certificate recognising their impact on Indigenous STEM education.

Assessment process and criteria

Criteria:

Nominee must be attending school on a regular basis.
Nominee must show an interest in a STEM topic area.
Nominee display the values of DeadlyScience – Inspire, Empower, Innovate, Community, Culture, Integrity.

The nominations will be assessed against the agreed criteria . The program will be available to students in all states and territories subject to the PBI requirements of DeadlyScience.

The judges may be a DeadlyScience Ambassador or one of the DeadlyScience team. The judges will base their decision on the ‘yarn’ provided by the teacher on the nomination form.

The DeadlyScience Awards celebrate the incredible achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and the educators who empower them in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). These awards recognise engagement, innovation, and a deep passion for learning—not just test scores.

Every year, we invite nominations for:

Deadly Junior Scientists – students who demonstrate a passion for STEM

Deadly STEM Educators – teachers who champion inclusive and inspiring STEM learning

Nominations for 2025 close on Friday 20 June 2025.

Winners will be announced in Science Week, with awards presented at school assemblies or community events.

Deadly Junior Scientist Awards

Recognising First Nations students who are curious, engaged and passionate about STEM topics such as robotics, coding, ecology, astronomy, and more.

Open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

Nominate students from any year level

Recognises initiative, creativity and cultural pride in STEM

Prize Includes:
$200 STEM Prize Pack
DeadlyScience Book Pack
Junior Scientist Medal
Certificate of Achievement

Nominate a Student →

Deadly STEM Educator of the Year

This award recognises educators who inspire First Nations learners by making STEM exciting, culturally relevant, and inclusive.

Open to teachers and support staff working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

Recognises culturally responsive STEM education and leadership

Prize Includes:
$250 Modern Teaching Aids Voucher
DeadlyScience Book Pack
Certificate of Recognition

Nominate an Educator →

2024 DeadlyScience Award Winners

Celebrating Young Innovators and Bold Educators in STEM

Each year, the DeadlyScience Awards honour outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who are making waves in STEM—and the educators who support and inspire them.

Here are the incredible Deadly Junior Scientists and Deadly STEM Educators for 2024.

Deadly STEM Educator Winners – 2024

Karalee Blake – Dianella Secondary College (WA)

Jarrah Cain – Hastings Public School (NSW)

Michelle Crittenden – Elermore Vale Public School (NSW)

Rose Wanambi – Raymangirr Homeland School (NT)

Joanne Yindiri Guyula – Donydji Homelands Learning Centre (NT)

Deadly Junior Scientist Winners – 2024

Jax Smillie – Year 6, St. Francis of Assisi Primary School – Baranduda (VIC)

Matilda Cook – Year 6, St. Francis of Assisi Primary School – Baranduda (VIC)

Alicia Reid – Year 4, Warakurna Campus, Ngaanyatjarra Lands School (WA)

Jackson Macgregor – Year 12, Darling Range Sports College (WA)

Alexia Crossley-Munro – Year 1, Mount Rogers Primary School (ACT)

Eli Hoppo – Year 5, Mount Rogers Primary School (ACT)

Charlie Jeffrey – Year 8, Parklands High School (TAS)

Tatum Hart – Year 6, Hope Vale School (QLD)

Zebastian Short – Year 10, Bellbird Park (QLD)

Mateo Roughsey – Robinson River School (NT)

Deadly Junior Scientist Winners – 2023

Jase Gibbins – Outstanding STEM Student
Montello Primary School, TAS

Indee Davis – Outstanding STEM Student

Phillip Willock – Outstanding STEM Student

Harry Petts – Outstanding STEM Student, QLD

Koby Stapleton – Outstanding STEM Student, SA

Zuwena Gade – Outstanding STEM Student, SA

Jackson McLennan – Outstanding STEM Student, NSW

Spencer Smith – Outstanding STEM Student, VIC

Christopher Giles – Outstanding STEM Student, ACT

Phillipa Hogan – Outstanding STEM Student, ACT

Kyran Cole-Manolis – Outstanding STEM Student, NT

Timika Harrington – Outstanding STEM Student, NT

🛰️ Special thanks to the Australian Space Agency and Australian Government for supporting these awards and recognising the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander STEM leaders.

Deadly STEM Educator Winners – 2023

Trish Chapman – Inspirational STEM Educator, WA

Emma Beaton – Inspirational STEM Educator, WA

Rebecca Hunt – Inspirational STEM Educator, NT

Tim Brown – Inspirational STEM Educator, NT

Vineeta Sharma – Inspirational STEM Educator, NSW

Jeanette Watts – Inspirational STEM Educator, ACT

Sophie Thorpe – Inspirational STEM Educator, SA

Caitlyn Smith – Inspirational STEM Educator, QLD

2022 Deadly STEM Educators WINNERS

Announcing the award winners of our prestigious annual awards for Deadly STEM teachers.

Community members nominated teachers in late 2022, and the winning teachers and assistant teachers showcase outstanding dedication to inspiring and building the future generation of STEM professionals. Congratulations to everyone nominated for your deadly work in the classroom and on-country. The winning teachers for each state and territory are…

Thanks to the Australian Space Agency for supporting these awards.

NT – Bulkunu (Valerie) Garrawurra of Shepherdson College, in particular, for teaching students to ask questions confidently about the world around them and reach conclusions through both Yolngu and Western scientific explanations

WA – Samantha Dalton of Dawul Remote Community School for involving the wider community to instil a love of learning not just in the students but also in the community and for her dedication to Two-Way Maths teaching and learning

QLD – Laura Loucks of Tagai State College, Thursday Island for her innovative ways of encouraging students to become engaged in STEM across 16 campuses

NSW – Elise Thornthwaite of Condobolin Public School for being a deadly role model and teaching on-country so students can explore their surroundings through a science lens with an Aboriginal perspective

ACT – Samantha MacKenzie of Harrison School for her use of Indigenous technologies and inspiring students to investigate and use Indigenous technologies themselves

TAS – Daniel Edwards of Montello Primary School, in particular, for the excursion to learn about Sea Country and generally for all the outstanding programs he develops and offers the students to engage with STEM

VIC – Suzanna Besim of KCLC Early Learning Centre for taking the initiative to start the engagement of pre-schoolers with First Nations Scientists and their discoveries throughout history

SOME OF OUR PAST WINNERS

Chris Errington (Robinson River, NT)

Paul Butters (Purnululu, WA)

Patsy Anne (Robinson River, NT)

2022 Deadly Junior Scientist WINNERS

There were so many amazing applications. Everyone who was nominated is most certainly a deadly junior scientist, mathematician, engineer or techonologist. Congratulations to the students below who are our 2022 Deadly Junior Scientist winners. All medals and prizes were kindly sponsored by the Australian Space Agency and acknowledge the next generation of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander STEM professionals.

Western Australia
Purnululu Aboriginal Independent Community School – Amelia Clifton Pinday for deadly science
Jameson Campus, Ngaanyatjarra Lands School – Quindarius McKay for deadly engineering

Northern Territory
Kalkaringi School – Sharifah Inverway for deadly technology
Minyerri School – Dazdon Daylight for deadly science

Queensland
Allora State School – Will Ballangarry for deadly science
Allora State School – Eleanore Briggs for deadly science

New South Wales
St Brigids Primary School Raymond Terrace – Ky Bennett for deadly technology
St Brigid’s Primary School – Harmony Grace-Griffiths for deadly science

Deadly Junior Scientists across Australia

Montello Primary School (TAS)

Congratulations Amelia on winning the Young Deadly Scientist Award for your work with trail cameras! Amelia was awarded a pair of binoculars. She says will use them when she goes out on Country to find kangaroos. Thank you to our DeadlyScience schools for supporting science in remote schools!