2023 entries have now closed
The Queensland Women in STEM prize recognises Queensland women who make an outstanding contribution in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and inspires women and girls to get involved!
Every day, our internationally renowned leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are applying their expertise to ensure economic prosperity and sustainability and enhance community wellbeing. Advancements in gender equality have supported more women and girls to be able to fully and freely participate in the vast opportunities Queensland has to offer. The contribution of women and girls to the STEM field in Queensland is profound. However, women continue to remain underrepresented as leaders and under recognised for their contribution across many domains. This particularly includes the STEM industries.
The 2023 Queensland Women in STEM Prize recognises the valuable contribution of Queensland women working in STEM careers and aims to inspire women and girls to start and thrive in STEM careers for the benefit of the whole community.
This state-wide competition is open to women working in STEM careers in Queensland who have made an outstanding contribution to STEM fields and who proactively support women and girls in STEM through engagement activities.
Previous winners have been recognised for their work on new health initiatives, green energy technology, nurturing diversity in STEM spaces, future-proofing against climate change, protecting ocean health through mathematics, inspiring the next generation of women in STEM, delivering support and mentorship for other women, and science communication.
To be eligible to enter, applicants must be within the first 15 years of their STEM career and are required to provide a written application and a short video.
The Queensland Women in STEM Prize includes two categories:
Highly Commended Award(s) will be bestowed at the discretion of the judging to panel to applicant(s)deemed to have demonstrated enthusiasm, dedication and commitment in their chosen field.
Finalists must attend the awards ceremony at which time the winners will be announced.
The 2023 Queensland Women in STEM Prize is presented by Queensland Museum Network, the Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist, and the Office for Women and Violence Prevention.
Depolymerisation of waste natural zeolite rock and green conversion to synthetic zeolite
Transforming Spaces in STEM through Play and Purpose
Plenty of fish in the sea? Using mathematics to save the ocean, educate, and communicate with the masses.
The unexpected value of climate change adaptation heuristics
From molecules to the mind: using big data towards earlier autism diagnosis
Securing food for future generations
Inspiring tomorrow's innovators
Impacts of biochar on soil carbon pools and nitrogen transformation in viticulture of South East QLD
Taking Cutting-Edge STEM out of the labs and onto the streets!
Fighting creepy with crawly: using spider venoms to make next-generation antiparasitic drugs
Trimming the Fat: targeting novel genetic factors and molecules that drive obesity
Indigenous climate change adaptation
Fishing for plastics: from ocean to plate
Taming weeds without herbicides
People in focus: protecting the eyesight of people with diabetes
Sustainable livestock production and gender equity, hand in hand
Mission inflammation: guarding against collateral damage in infection
Spinifex grass: hidden gold in the Australian landscape
Investigating the effect snake venom has on our blood to help develop new life-changing medicines
Saving the ageing brain
STEM education and engagement
Sticky toffee causing power "outages" in diabetes
The 2023 Queensland Women in STEM Prize offers cash prizes:
* Finalists must be able to attend the award ceremony to be eligible to receive an award.
The Queensland Women in STEM Prize includes two categories:
Highly Commended Award(s) will be bestowed at the discretion of the judging panel to applicant(s) deemed to have demonstrated enthusiasm, dedication and commitment in their chosen field.
The 2023 Queensland Women in STEM Prize is open to any person who:
Applicants may include professionals, scientists, researchers, educators or students from any company, institute, government, university, not-for-profit or educational institution.
The Prize is open to any person within the first 15 years of their STEM career. The following will be considered towards 15 years of STEM career:
These 15 years are exclusive of time spent on leave, career breaks and study/work outside a STEM field.
To be eligible for the Breaking Barriers Award the entrant must also identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, as having a disability (as defined under the Disability Services Act 2006); ) or be a carer (as defined under the Carers (Recognition) Act 2008).
Prize money must be spent on professional development – this could be a conference, research field trip, internship, purchasing new software etc. Winners are required to acquit their prize within 12-months.
Applications must be submitted by an individual. Teams are ineligible to apply. Entrants working as part of a team are encouraged to apply as an individual by focusing their application on their contribution to the team project.
Previous winners of the Queensland Women in STEM Prize are ineligible. If you have entered a previous Queensland Women in STEM Prize, but did not receive an award, you are welcome (and encouraged!) to enter again.
Submitting a video is required for your entry to be deemed eligible.
Try contacting your organisation's media and communications department who may be able to help in producing and creating your video. Or you can do it yourself by following some of the tips below. You could also review some of the past winners' videos for inspiration.
Here are a few tips for filming your video. Remember, the judges will be assessing your content and your ability to articulate your work in STEM, not your video production skills.
Embedding your video is the only way to present your video. You must upload your video to another site like Youtube, Vimeo or Google Drive first - then follow their instructions to copy the embedding code into the application when it asks you. Links to the help guides to help you find the right code to embed are below:
The awards will be determined by a panel of judges, including representatives from:
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