Young Scientist

To encourage and reward research and education on environmental issues STEP aligned with Young Scientist and donated a prize for the best environmental project. In 2026 the Science Teachers Association of New South Wales decided not to include special prizes and so our association with them was discontinued.

2025
Cooper Tamayo (Elizabeth Macarthur High School)
Tree-mendous preferences: The housing market according to little forest bats

2024
Beatrix Farley (Loreto Kirribilli)
Investigation into the change in microplastic abundance along the eastern coast of Australia from 2018 to 2024

2023
Isabelle Fisher (Roseville College)
Investigating the effects of an established arbuscular mycorrhizal network on seed germination and seedling growth for Acacia linifolia and Acacia ulicifolia

2022
Lily Rafail (PLC Sydney)
Water Hyssop (Bacopa monnieri) and Avocado Skin Powder can Alter the Amount of Heavy Metals in Aquatic Environments

2021
Chloe LeMap (PLC Sydney)
Cool the Sand, Save the Sea Turtles

2020
Maja Dalby-Ball Olson (Barrenjoey High School)
Variation in Flammability in the Flora in the Sydney Sandstone Vegetation Community

2019
Suzanne Jones (Redeemer Baptist School)
The Call of the Wild: A Phrenological Study of Circadas in Lake Parramatta Reserve

2018
Beatrix Farley (Castle Cove Public School)
Are there Microplastics on the Beaches of Australia’s East Coast?

2017
Evette Khaziran (Redeemer Baptist School)
Give me a Home among the Gum Trees

2016
Jade Moxey (Sapphire Coast Anglican College)
Grazing Sheep on Deadly Fireweed: A BaaaaD Situation?

2015
Jade Moxey (Sapphire Coast Anglican College)
The Spread of Seeds through Cattle

2014
Nicole Sung (PLC Sydney)
Recycling of Grey Water

2013
Aiden Giragossian (Barker College)
Biofuel: Ethanol towards a Greener and Secure Energy Future

2012
Daniel Dell’Armi (De La Salle Revesby Heights)
Is the Dye-pigment Solar Cell the Solution to our Scarce Amount of Renewable Energy Sources?
Highly commended Aoife Hogan (Hills Grammar School)
Miscanthus – Fuel of the Future?

2011
Hilary Knowles (Chevalier College)
What is the Best Method of Filtering Pond Water to Make it Drinkable?

2010
Meena Sritharan (Strathfield Girls High School)
How to Clean Up an Oil Spill: Does the Water Temperature of the Ocean Affect the Time to Clean up an Oil Spill?

2009
Rebecca Dawkins (Sydney Girls High School)
Effect of Colour and Roofing Material on House Temperature

2008
Sam Wightman (Mullumbimby High School)
Acidic Rain Water from Acid Sulphate Soils
Highly commended: Jessica Dunn (Bowral High School)
Do Willows Affect the Quality of Water in Rivers?

2007
Nina Pinto (Hornsby Girls High School)
The Habitat of the Marine Snail, Nerita atramentosa, and the Tenacity of its Foot in Various Salinities
Highly commended: Ellenore Forrester (Redeemer Baptist School, Parramatta) for her excellent research into an Enviropump

2006
Robbie Bishop-Taylor (Great Lakes College, Forster Campus)
The Identification of Critical Salinity Thresholds for Upper Estuarine Plants

2005
Laura Woollacott
An Investigation into the Pollution Stopper and its Effects on the Water Quality of Moores Creek

2004
Daniel Tracey (Barker College)
Analysing the Effects of Different Types of Grey Water on Plants
Highly commended: David Llewellyn (Great Lakes College)
Investigating the Effect of Riparian Weeds on Stream Invertebrates

2003
Andrew Stewart (Karabar Distance Education Centre)
Artificial Wetlands: Can Carex appressa Prevent Eutrophication in Australian Waterways?

2002
Gregory Howe (Fort Street High School)
Feral Fish: Is the Plague Minnow in the Myall River System?

2001
Lui Weber (Wollumbin High School) conducted a survey on the endangered red-fruited ebony, Diospyros mabacea