This week has been a truly memorable celebration of scientific curiosity, discovery and community at QASMT, with our annual Science Fair Week bringing together students, staff, families and visiting students and staff from John Monash Science School. Across the week, our Academy was filled with opportunities to explore, question, experiment and celebrate the remarkable scientific thinking of our students.
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We are also incredibly proud to celebrate a significant achievement for our Academy, with QASMT being named the 2026 Best STEM Program at the Australian Education Awards. Presented by The Educator, the Australian Education Awards recognise outstanding achievement, innovation and leadership across the Australian education sector. This award is a wonderful recognition of the passion, expertise and dedication of our staff and students in creating engaging, innovative and authentic STEM experiences. It is particularly fitting that this recognition comes during Science Fair Week, a week that reflects our Academy's commitment to inspiring curiosity, creativity and scientific thinking through hands-on opportunities for students to investigate ideas, collaborate, innovate and share their thinking.
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Science Fair Week commenced on Monday with our QASMT Science Fair Opening Ceremony, setting the tone for a week dedicated to celebrating inquiry and innovation. The morning featured a spectacular watermelon explosion in the courtyard with Councillor Penny Wolff, Principal Andrew Chisholm and students from John Monash Science School (JMSS), QASMT students and staff. It was an energetic and memorable way to launch the week and a wonderful demonstration of how science can inspire curiosity and bring people together.
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Our Science Fair Oral Presentations provided an opportunity for students to share their research, findings and scientific thinking with an audience. These presentations highlighted the depth of inquiry undertaken by our students and their ability to communicate complex ideas with confidence and clarity.
We also celebrated our STEM RPP and Young Einstein students during a special ceremony. The afternoon continued with our Science Fair Poster Exhibition, featuring selected Year 9 and Year 10 students, 30 Young Einsteins and students from JMSS showcasing their work in the poster exhibition. This event provided a wonderful opportunity for our community to engage with the research being undertaken by our students and to see first-hand creativity, persistence and intellectual curiosity that underpin their work.
A special thank you also goes to our parent representatives, who hosted a barbecue during the afternoon. Their support and involvement added another wonderful dimension to the sense of community throughout Science Fair Week.
Tuesday continued the scientific celebrations with a range of engaging Science Week courtyard activities, including lava lamps, iodine checks, wine into water and sticky ice. These hands-on experiences encouraged students to explore scientific concepts in an accessible and enjoyable way, with our Academy grounds once again becoming a place of experimentation and discovery.
Our visiting students and staff from John Monash Science School, together with selected members of our Senior Leadership Team, travelled to the University of Queensland Science precinct. The excursion provided an excellent opportunity for students to connect with the broader scientific community and gain insight into the pathways and possibilities available through university study and research.
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Tuesday concluded with our QASMT Science Fair Closing Ceremony, followed by the much-anticipated QASMT Science Fair Star Party. The Star Party was a wonderful way to finish the formal Science Fair program with our JMSS guests, bringing students and members of our community together for an evening of fun, connection and celebration. Students enjoyed pizza, courtyard games and karaoke, creating a lively and relaxed atmosphere as we celebrated the success of Science Fair Week. It was a fitting way to conclude a week dedicated to curiosity and discovery, while also giving our students the opportunity to simply enjoy one another's company and celebrate as a community.
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Wednesday provided a change of pace with the Ekka Public Holiday. Our
visiting JMSS staff and students, along with Head of Department Chemical
Sciences, Rob Hughes and myself, enjoyed a range of activities at South Bank.
It was another valuable opportunity to strengthen the connections between our
two schools and share experiences beyond the classroom.
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Thursday morning began with Brunch with a Scientist, providing our students with a wonderful opportunity to connect with scientists and researchers and hear about their experiences, careers and pathways into the world of science. These conversations offered an authentic insight into the many possibilities that exist within STEM and encouraged students to consider how their own interests and curiosity might translate into future study and careers. It was a wonderful way to continue the momentum of Science Fair Week, connecting our students with members of the broader scientific community and inspiring them to think about the many opportunities that a future in science can offer.
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Thursday also saw our students participate in Group 4 Action Day, an important component of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The day provided opportunities for collaboration, practical engagement and reflection, reinforcing the importance of learning that extends beyond traditional classroom experiences.
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Our Science Week activities continued in the courtyard with demonstrations exploring the science of bubbles and the fascinating chemical chameleon. These activities once again demonstrated the enthusiasm of our Science Ambassadors and the ability of our students to inspire one another through shared curiosity and experimentation.
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Thursday provided an opportunity to recognise student achievement through our STEM Scholars Ceremony. Congratulations to all students recognised for their achievements. Celebrations such as this remind us of the many different ways our students demonstrate excellence and the importance of recognising their dedication, perseverance and passion for learning.
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While Science Fair Week was the focus of much of our attention, our students continued to demonstrate their commitment to their academic pursuits. On Thursday and Friday, our Year 12 students commenced their Mock Examinations, an important period designed to provide valuable experience in examination conditions, consolidate their learning and help students reflect on their preparation as they move closer to their final QCAA examinations. The Mock Examinations will continue over the coming weeks, providing our Year 12 students with an important opportunity to refine their examination strategies, manage their time and build confidence ahead of their final assessments. I commend our Year 12 students for their continued focus and wish them well as they navigate this significant stage of their senior schooling journey.
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Alongside these important academic milestones, Science Fair Week has been a wonderful reminder of what makes QASMT such a special place to learn — a community where students are encouraged to pursue their interests, challenge themselves and celebrate their achievements. Our students have demonstrated that scientific excellence is not simply about knowing the answers; it is about asking thoughtful questions, embracing uncertainty, testing ideas, communicating findings and remaining curious about the world around us.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our Science faculties, Science Ambassadors, support staff, parent representatives and everyone who contributed to making this week such a success. I particularly acknowledge the time and expertise invested in creating opportunities for our students to engage with authentic scientific experiences and to share their learning with others.
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As we move beyond Science Fair Week, our focus now turns towards the many academic and co-curricular opportunities that continue throughout Term 3. For our Year 12 students, the Mock Examinations provide an important checkpoint as they prepare for the final stages of their senior schooling. For all of our students, I encourage them to continue approaching each opportunity with the same curiosity, enthusiasm and commitment that has been so evident throughout this extraordinary week.
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Thank you to our students, staff, families and wider community for helping make Science Fair Week such a memorable celebration of discovery, innovation and connection. It has been wonderful to see our Academy come alive with science.
Warm regards,
Kerry Bullock
Acting Principal
Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology