Little Scientists Early STEM Education Awards: Nominations now open

Nominations for Australia’s only awards to celebrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) excellence in early childhood education are now open. 

 

The Little Scientists Early STEM Education Awards run bi-annually and provide early childhood educators and early primary teachers with the opportunity to showcase the inspirational work they do to develop a love of STEM learning in children aged from birth to seven years of age.

 

The theme for the 2024 awards is “Overcoming gender bias in early STEM education,” with hopes that the awards will uncover more information about how educators and other professionals in the early childhood sector are promoting gender equality and overcoming the gender stereotypes that can hold young girls back in STEM education. 

 

The theme acknowledges research which shows that by the age of six years, young girls’ participation in STEM education is already negatively impacted by gender stereotypes. This lack of inclusion has life-long consequences, with women currently making up only 15 per cent of the STEM workforce in Australia. 

 

Nominations can be made in one of two categories: 

 

Category 1. The Excellence in Early STEM Education Award, which recognises early learning services and early primary classrooms.

 

Category 2. The Outstanding Early STEM Education Leader Award, which recognises early childhood educators and early primary teachers. 

 

Nominations for the awards are open now, and close 31 May 2024, with winners to be announced in August 2024.  

 

One overall winner plus eight state and territory award winners will be named in each category. 

 

Nominees will have the chance to win incredible prizes worth up to $3,700, including Bee-Bots, STEM play sets, and subscriptions to LoveHeart, an ECE AI tool that helps educators understand children’s development, create learning stories, learning plans, and more.

 

To recognise the efforts of all services, classrooms, educators, and teachers who nominate, Little Scientists and sponsor LoveHeart will provide the following nomination gifts to all eligible nominees:

 

Service & classroom nominees:

 

• LoveHeart $199 gift card
• Little Scientists $30 coupon to put towards any in-person or online workshop in 2024.

 

Educator & teacher nominees:

 

• LoveHeart $39 gift card 
• Little Scientists $30 coupon to put towards any in-person or online workshop.

 

For more information on the nomination process, the prestigious prize pool and other aspects of the awards please see here.

 

“The Little Scientists Early STEM Education Awards are proudly sponsored by LoveHeart, EducationAll, and Education Technology Specialists.”