STS Resources
FOR TEACHERS & SCHOOL COORDINATORS:
- Judging for STS is a great opportunity for professional development. It can be in person or online and requires a minimum of 4 contact hours in early August.
- Judges Portal
You can use these forms to collect Entry (project) and Judge details.
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)
The professional development kit is currently undergoing a full review and will be made available when possible.
STS has been mapped to the Victorian Curriculum
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.
By joining the STS committee you will be helping to ensure that the competition continues to run. Just as importantly you will be having direct input into the way in which it operates and helping to maintain and improve its quality. You will gain in-depth insights into how the competition runs and the rationale behind its requirements. You will also better understand the standards required for bursary-winning projects.
There are also other professional learning and networking benefits. Being on the committee provides a wealth of professional learning opportunities, ranging from coordination and management skills, assessment skills, public speaking, communication and relationship building skills, to the opportunity to network with colleagues from other schools.
Your role on committee will benefit STS and its students, it will help you to develop professionally, and it will allow you to directly contribute to your professional association – the Science Teachers’ Association of Victoria Inc.
If you are interested in joining the committee, please email [email protected]
FOR STUDENTS & PARENTS:
The 2025 Theme is Decoding the Universe: Exploring the Unknown with Nature’s Hidden Language.
Theme and topics MUST be followed for the following two sections (categories)
- Creative Writing
- Primary
1. The patterns of the Night Sky: A Map for Explorers.
2. Discovering Nature’s Secret Numbers.
3. The Magic of Light.
4. My Quantum Adventure. - Secondary
1. Whispers of the Stars: A Journey into Quantum space.
2. Secrets of the Sun: A Journey with Photons/
3. A Quest for the Golden Ratio.
4. The Butterfly Effect.
- Primary
- Posters & Scientific Wallcharts
- Primary
1. Patterns, Symmetry and Chaos in Nature.
2. The Cosmic Symphony: Waves and Particles in Space.
3. My favourite Quantum Scientist.
4. Quantum Science Driving Innovation in Medicine. - Secondary
1. How Tiny Particles Shape Big Things.
2. The Science of Quantum Cryptography.
3. AI and Quantum Science: The Future of Technology.
4. Quantum Science Driving Innovation in Medicine.
- Primary
Below are two good examples of key science ideas and two poor examples. These examples have been provided to give you some guidance in understanding the type and depth of response required to satisfy this guideline for Creative Writing.
PRIMARY (Good example)
In chemical reactions chemical changes occur such as a change in colour, formation of bubbles, an increase or decrease in temperature or light given off and a new substance is formed.
PRIMARY (Poor example)
A chemical reaction in one where a chemical change occurs. For example, sodium carbonate reacts with vinegar.
SECONDARY (Good example)
In a chemical reaction, atoms are rearranged to form new products. For example, sodium metal reacts with water to produce sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. The new substances formed are the hydrogen gas, which produces bubbles and a pop test can be used to test its presence. Sodium hydroxide turns pink when phenothalein is added. Heat is also produced as it is an exothermic reaction.
SECONDARY (Poor example)
In chemical reaction there is a change of colour. For example sodium metal explodes in water and it fizzes.
Explanatory note
The good examples explain the concept thoroughly with definitions, explanations and description of relevant examples. The poor examples are too general, inaccurate and incomplete.
emplates 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.
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
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.
Assessment Rubrics are currently undergoing a complete review and will be made available when possible.
General Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Entering STS:
Entries are submitted by School Coordinators on behalf of students at their school. Check the STS Handbook for more information.
The STS Handbook is now only available in a digital copy found here.
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.
Contact the STS team via email [email protected]
Unfortunately no. The entry fee is to cover the costs of processing entries and general administration of the competition. STS is administered by a small team, it would cost us more than your original entry fee to process your refund.
All entries must submitted by a School Coordinator.
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.
Judging and Presentation Day:
Judging will be online or in metro locations. Further information will be made available.
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.
Other:
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.