STEM Inclusion
The Eureka Prize for STEM Inclusion is presented by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources through the Inspiring Australia - Science Engagement Programme.
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The Department of Industry, Science and Resources Eureka Prize for STEM Inclusion is awarded for an initiative that has led to greater inclusion in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the Australian community.
For the purposes of this prize, ‘inclusion’ refers to the participation, engagement and empowerment of all Australians in STEM, particularly people who may be underrepresented such as, women and girls, First Nation communities, people living with disability those from regional and remote areas, the LGBTIQA+ community, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, neurodivergent people and people who face aged based discrimination.
Entries for initiatives of all sizes are encouraged, including those that have a localised community focus. Entries may vary in size and scope and judges will take the relative size of the initiative into account during judging.
Prize
$10,000
Asessment criteria
Entries must specifically address how the work entered meets the following assessment criteria:
Initiative summary (40%)
Describe details of the initiative including:
a) Design and objectives of the initiative;
b) Size and scope of the initiative. This could include, but is not limited to, budget, staffing, volunteer numbers and geographic reach;
c) How the initiative uses STEM experts; including in the project design and development;
d) Guidelines for ethical practice; This could include but is not limited to participant safety and stakeholder safety;
e) Results over the past 5 years (i.e., between April 2019 and April 2024);
f) Future plans for the initiative.
Impact (60%)
Describe and provide evidence of how the initiative has directly made STEM more inclusive to the initiative’s target audience, including how it has:
a) Improved target audiences’ access to STEM;
b) Influenced audience perception of STEM;
c) Increased participation of target audiences’ in new STEM experiences;
d) Improved target audiences’ engagement with STEM, STEM skills, or pursuit of STEM studies and careers;
e) Made STEM more inclusive in other ways not addressed above.
Prize specific conditions of entry
Individuals and teams
The prize is open to individuals and teams, if the achievement is the result of a collaborative team effort.
For team entries:
- Comprising of between two and six individuals, the first listed entrant must be the team leader. You must describe the contribution of each individual to the research and explain why the Eureka Prize should be jointly awarded to the listed individuals. This explanation must be included in the ‘initiative summary.’
- Comprising of more than six individuals, the listed entrant must be the team leader and they must enter under a team name. They are required to briefly describe the composition of the team and explain why the Eureka Prize should be jointly awarded to a team of more than six individuals. This explanation must be included in the ‘initiative summary.’
Citizenship
- For an individual entry, the entrant must be either an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident.
- For team entries comprising of between two and six individuals, the team leader must be either an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident. Members of the team do not have to fulfil this requirement.
- For team entries comprising of more than six individuals, the team leader must be either an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident. Members of the team do not have to fulfil this requirement.
Activity location
Activity entered for this prize must have taken place in or been led from Australia, as defined by the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes Terms and Conditions.
Timeframe
Activity entered for this prize must have been undertaken within five years of the Entry Deadline.
Category specific conditions of entry – Science Engagement prizes
Entrants can either enter themselves or be nominated by another person. If an entrant is nominated it is important that they provide input to the documentation supporting their nomination.
The activity entered or nominated for this prize may not be entered or nominated for another Australian Museum Eureka Prize in the same year.
Activity that has been awarded an Australian Museum Eureka Prize in the past cannot be entered again.
In addition to the prize and category specific conditions of entry all entrants need to comply with the General Terms and Conditions of Entry.
Entry materials
Each entry must include the following information. All information provided will be used by the judging panel to assess the activity against the assessment criteria.
Response to assessment criteria
[Four pages (maximum); 2cm margins (minimum); Size 11 font (minimum)].
A statement by the entrant or nominator on how the activity addresses both assessment criterion. Key dates (month and year) must be included to demonstrate that the activity entered has been undertaken no more than five years prior to the Entry Deadline.
For team entries, an explanation of the team and why the Eureka Prize should be jointly awarded must be included.
Assessor reports
[Reports must be prepared using the template provided. Two pages (maximum)].
Two reports from assessors on how the activity addresses each of the assessment criterion. Judges rely on assessor reports to provide an additional perspective and informed opinion on the activity entered, therefore assessors should not be personally or directly involved in it. Assessors should be selected from a variety of different organisations. Reports must be prepared using the template provided.
Testimonial
[Testimonial must be prepared using the template provided. Two pages (maximum)].
One personal testimonial from a member of the initiative’s target audience, describing their experiences and engagement with the initiative. This person must be currently or recently (within the past five years) engaged in the initiative. Unless the beneficiary is under 18 years of age, testimonial must be prepared by a direct beneficiary, not an individual who has observed the impact on the target audience. Testimonial must be prepared using the template provided.
How to Enter
Entries to the 2024 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes closed at 7pm AEST on Friday 12 April.
