2024 Young Scientist Awards

Budding Young Scientists from across NSW were recognised at the 2024 Young Scientist Awards Ceremony at The University of Technology Sydney on November 22nd, with Barker College student, Tim Wilson, awarded Young Scientist of the Year for his project “Cuddle & Comfort Chimp: An Innovative Robotic Sleep Device”.

This is the 32nd year of the Science Teachers’ Association of NSW Young Scientist Awards Program, which celebrates the scientific and technical innovations of K-12 school students around the state. Since 1992, the program, run by the Science Teachers’ Association of NSW, has been encouraging students to undertake innovative projects and investigations to find creative solutions to real-world problems.

At the awards ceremony, over 100 students received awards for their science projects, including awards for Young Scientist of the Year, Rural Young Scientist of the Year as well as category awards across Scientific Investigation, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environment and Technological Innovation. Over $20,000 worth of prizes were awarded and contributed by program sponsors Rowe Scientific, The Australian National Maritime Museum, Australian Skeptics, Australian Institute of Physics, AARNet, Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and STEP Inc.

29 nominees were announced for the National ASTA i3 awards, with representation spread across 14 regions of the state.

President of The Science Teachers’ Association of NSW, Amy Ayres, says the Young Scientist Awards provide an incredible platform for students to showcase their scientific curiosity, thinking and creativity.

“Scientific inquiry has always been a cornerstone of societal, political and geospatial advancement, driving innovations that shape our world and improve our lives. From breakthroughs in healthcare to sustainable energy solutions, the work of scientists plays a pivotal role in addressing global challenges and advancing civilization. In Australia, nurturing the next generation of scientists is vital to ensuring continued progress, and events like this are crucial for fostering talent and passion for discovery among young students."

“By participating in the Young Scientist Awards, students not only gain recognition for their hard work but also open doors to potential career pathways in science and technology. The awards encourage critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, all of which are essential for the future of Australia's scientific and technological landscape.”

2024 Young Scientist of the Year: Winning Projects

Tim Wilson, Barker College, Cuddle & Comfort Chimp: An Innovative Robotic Sleep Device

Sleep problems can be disruptive to both the sufferer and their family members. Tim designed a device in the form of a soft toy that could provide comfort to a child during the night by mimicking the breathing and hugs of a parent. The device also incorporated a CO2 sensor to gather breathing data to monitor sleep. A key challenge was to maintain the softness of the toy while hiding the components needed to provide motion and power.

Zihan Luo, James Ruse Agricultural High School, Investigating the feasibility and effectiveness of 3D printed integrated strain sensors printed vertically using inflexible thermoplastics

Zihan was interested in the way that strain sensors can be used to monitor and optimise the performance of smart devices. He built and tested sensors that were integrated into the objects as they were produced using a 3D printer. Batches were manufactured using a range of materials and techniques. The results of testing showed these devices have great potential.

Matthew Young, Barker College, Sub-surface venturi aerator for the prevention of algal blooms

Algal bloom is a common problem in waterways across Australia, disrupting ecosystems and water supplies. Matthew’s brief was to create a prototype of a venturi aeration robot that would prevent the growth of algae. The final device used a solar panel in combination with a battery floating above the water, with the nozzle for the aerator under the surface to deliver air for oxygenation.

Dorothy Koo, William Carey Christian School, Unreinforced perfluoro sulfonic acid ion-exchange membranes and lower brine concentrations in chlor-alkali electrolytic cells

Chlor-alkali electrolysis is an industrial process used to produce chlorine and sodium hydroxide. The process is energy intensive, and the student investigated cost-effective alternatives to existing equipment. Dorothy used 3D printing to create her own ion-exchange membrane and tested it in electrolysis. The more economical set-up resulted in a higher yield of product.

2024 Rural Young Scientist of the Year, presented by Passionately Curious

George Wakem, Kinross Wolaroi School, The impact of gelatine to alginate ratio on the fidelity and printability of bionics in simulated biological environments

Organ replacement is a challenging health problem with difficulties in sourcing human organs and preventing rejection by the host. Bioprinting is a potential solution to this. George examined the role of different ratios of components on the accuracy of the 3D object, finding that a 3:1 ratio of gelatine to alginate was best.

Young Scientist of the Year – Primary Top Entry

Lucy Oates and Benjamin Oates, Sapphire Coast Anglican College, A Combustible Contest

Lucy and Benjamin investigated if a room was heated more effectively with a vent supplying air directly to a fireplace, instead of it being drawn in from the room as in a standard fireplace. They built a model room and fireplace for testing. The results showed that when the vent was air to the fireplace the room was heated up more effectively than when the vent was supplying air to the room, although the difference was not as big as they expected.

Rural Primary Young Scientist of the Year

Hamish McMillan, Armidale City Public School, How to Spot a Robot

Hamish investigated how well people can identify AI images when put under time pressure. He used 12 AI-generated images and 12 real images and surveyed 464 people across a range of ages. The data Hamish collected showed that participants correctly identified AI images more accurately (72%) than the real ones (64%). Time pressure seemed to not affect accuracy.