By Senator Anne Urquhart
Last night, the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science took place at Parliament House, Canberra. These awards celebrate the outstanding contribution made by scientists, innovators and teachers to uplifting Australia’s way of life.
I was thrilled to see Montello Primary School teacher, Daniel Edwards named the winner of the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools.
Daniel is a STEM teacher at Montello Primary School in Tasmania and has been recognised for encouraging all students, regardless of their background, to engage with STEM subjects and consider a career in science. Montello Primary School has many students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and his development of a STEM and Digital Technologies Program has seen an unprecedented increase in student engagement and achievement in STEM.
Daniel also mentors local educators in effective STEM teaching and learning practices, and teaches Digital Technologies at Parklands High School in Tasmania.
On top of this, he is the founder and CEO of GreenSTEM Education, Tasmania’s first STEM education-focused charity that works to provide equitable access to STEM education to young people, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Through GreenSTEM, he runs STEM Unlimited, a free after-school club open to all students in the region.
This is incredible news and I congratulate Daniel on this fantastic achievement.
Braddon is so lucky to have teachers like Daniel who are committed to breaking down barriers so that students can achieve amazing things.