2014 University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize—Secondary
Winner: Jackson Huang, Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology, Qld
A ghostly feeling explains our sense of touch
Year-12 Brisbane student Jackson Huang has won the University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize—Secondary.
In his video, Phantom Limbs, Jackson uses this puzzling neurological disorder, often experienced by amputees, to enlighten the audience about the complexity of the human nervous system.
Jackson is a student at the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology in Brisbane.
Sponsored by the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Science, the Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize, named in honour of Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Adam Spencer, recognises short films that communicate a scientific concept in an accessible and engaging way.
The judges determined that Jackson’s film was the best of the entries received from across Australia in the secondary school category, which recognises excellence in communicating scientific ideas ‘painlessly’ or, as the Sleek Geeks like to say, “help people to learn something without even noticing”.
“These young scientists will be our next generation of researchers, academics, inventors and communicators,” Australian Museum Director and CEO Kim McKay, said. “I’m pleased that the Eureka Prizes are encouraging our scientists of the future.”
The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are the country’s most comprehensive national science awards. The Eureka Prizes have been rewarding science since 1990—celebrating 25 years in 2014.
Second prize in the secondary section went to Jackson ‘Jack Mac’ McDonald of Varsity College on the Gold Coast for his video Epigenetics, a clever introduction to a complex subject.
Third prize went to Mikali Anagnostis from St Philip’s Christian College in Newcastle for his film The Mystery of Lichen, about the ‘crusty blue stuff’.
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