Resources

School Portal Instructions for the school STS Coordinator: here

Instructions on how to submit entry (project) files: here

For further information, click here

You can use these forms to collect Entry (project) and Judge details.

For Judge’s proforma – Download a copy here

For Entry (Project) proforma – Download a copy here

STS Promotional Poster can be downloaded and printed to be put up around the school or your classroom.

Class Projects are only available for primary schools.

Age divisions include:

• Lower Primary (F-Year 2)
• Middle Primary (Year 3-4)
• Upper Primary (Year 5-6)

Click here for more information on Class Projects

The Science Talent Search Professional Development Kit is free and has been designed for schools and teachers facilitating the competition for the first time.

To request a copy, contact the STS Officer.

STS has been mapped to the Victorian Curriculum

Download the Matrix

The Science Talent Search competition is run almost entirely by a volunteer committee. Each year 25-30 dedicated teachers or ex-teachers donate their valuable time to administering judging, running Exhibition and Presentation Day, and overseeing the competition rules and guidelines.

Without the committee, the competition cannot operate.

For more information about the STS Committee, click here.

Theme and topics MUST be followed for the following two sections (categories)

• Creative Writing
• Posters & Scientific Wallcharts

Click here for the 2023 Topics

Key Science Ideas – Examples can be found here

Templates have been provided and can be used to refer or adapt to for your own poster and submitted in digital format. Power point is preferred.

• Poster Template – Primary Divisions
• Poster Template – Secondary Divisions

If you are hand-drawing and pasting text/diagrams onto your poster, take CLEAR photos of your poster including:

• At least one photo of the whole poster.
• Close up of text AND diagrams.
• Close up of acknowledgements, references, bibliography.

Remember: If you can’t read the text on the photos of your poster, then the judge can’t see it either.

Some students need a place to start for what to include in their report for their Working Model or Invention. Click on the following links for a sample format. These are only guides, and students can use their own version.

Sample Working Models Report Format

Sample Inventions Report Format

A risk assessment will be required for Experimental Research, Class Research Projects, Working Models and Inventions. If you don’t know where to start, a proforma is available to be used here.

Students from country, regional and Jewish schools may not be able to attend a metropolitan venue for Judging Day due to distance and religious reasons.

You will also need to submit a video of your oral presentation.

For some guidelines on what to include in your oral presentation, please check here.

2023 Rubrics for each of the sections (categories) are provided below.

Content coming soon

Coming soon

Click here for the 2023 Topics

Coming soon

Each year there is a theme for the Science Talent Search, usually based on the National Science Week theme. For Experimental Research, Games, Working Models, Inventions, Computer Programs – Games & Simulations, Science Photography and Video Productions you can choose your own theme and specific topic.

For Creative Writing and Posters – Scientific Wall Charts you MUST choose one of the set topics. The set topics are outlined in the current year’s handbook and these are the ONLY topics that will be judged.

You may be disadvantaged during judging.

No. We must have all student names and project titles at the time entry registration closes. All details must be completed online.

Coming soon

Unfortunately no. The entry fee is to cover the costs of processing entries and general administration of the competition. It would cost us more than your original entry fee to process your refund.

Coming soon.

Students can enter as “Individuals” or “Groups”. A group entry is two (2) students. The maximum of two students cannot be exceeded under any circumstances. The only exception is for the Class Research Project which is available to Lower Primary, Middle Primary and Upper Primary.

Yes, they can enter as many as they wish providing they are able to attend each appropriate judging venue, where necessary.

No, because they’re judged separately, often at different venues.

Yes.

Yes.

This is not encouraged because the student must compete against students much older & complete a project of higher conceptual level. It may be appropriate for high achievers; however, bear in mind that all projects are open-ended and allow students to extend themselves as much as they wish within their own age division. They can also submit more than one project in more than one section.

Coming soon

Yes you do. All schools entering must provide judges at the ratio of one judge to every 12 entries or part thereof.

Coming soon.

No, when you enter the competition you commit to the rules. One of the conditions for metropolitan students is that you attend Judging Day with your project, unless you have entered into one of the online judging sections.

Metropolitan is defined as within 100km radius of the GPO.

No, special medallions are presented as a gift to bursary winners who attend the Presentation Day ceremonies.

All prizes are funded by our sponsors. Sponsors like to feel that their money has been well spent. Showing appreciation in the form of a well written thank you note, or better still a personal thank you at Presentation Day encourages our sponsors to continue supporting the competition. This is direct feedback that reassures them that the competition promotes enjoyment of science.