Central Queensland University (CQU) is among 32 recipients of the inaugural Peter Doherty Awards for Excellence in Science and Science Education handed out Thursday at the Old Queensland Government House.

Dr Col Greensill, from the James Goldston Faculty of Engineering and Physical Systems, accepted $2500 on behalf of his Faculty for the work it has done to advance science education. Dr Greensill developed and co-ordinated a professional development course for Physics Teachers that was delivered by the CQU Physics team.

Science teachers from nine secondary schools in Rockhampton and Yeppoon area completed a professional development course in Physics at CQU Rockhampton.

"There's a critical shortage of science teacers in Australia . A large number of teachers are required to teach outside of their speciality in other areas like Physics. Professional Development in this areas was needed and we delveloped this program in collaboration with the Spotlight on Science initiative of Education Queensland ," Dr Greensill told UniNews.

John Hunt, Lecturer in Science, Technology and Information Communication Technologies and Lecturer Reyna Zipf - both staff of CQU\\\'s Faculty of Educations & Creative Arts - were acknowledged with $2500 for the course that they developed for teachers on embedding Information Communication Technologies in how students learn. The also received recognition for the partnerships Ms Zipf has developed with schools wanting to use technology.

\\\"Primary and pre-school teachers have difficulties teaching technology. This course gives teachers and student-teachers the confidence to use technology to teach science and technology in primary and lower secondary schools,\\\" Hunt explained.

The course is a component of CQU\\\'s ground-breaking Learning Management programs.

\\\"You can\\\'t separate technology from learning-in-the-classroom today especially in rural and regional locations. A teacher\\\'s personal experience in dealing with technology has an effect on how they teach it and they need to be able to apply these skills in a critical and reflective way in the classroom,\\\" Ms Zipf added. Hunt and his colleagues, for example, are working on a project that delivers images from a scanning electron microscope in Brisbane to student in remote classrooms across the state over the internet.

Using the technology students examine different specimens up-close at incredibly high resolution -- at the nano-scale. They have studied the Imported Red Fire Ant, Queensland Fruit Fly, white fly, human head lice, rutile sand, an old sixpence, needles and pins and more. This work is a response to the Smart State challenge to connect students in schools with the world of research. Students are also able to explore the laboratory in which the powerful microscope is situated using a remote control camera. Using the technology, students talk to and learn from the scientists and request images of specific objects.

"We look forward to next year when we hope that the collaborative effort currently underway between Janice Bulman and Alan Harrison of Education and Creative Arts and Colin Greensill of Engineering and Physical Systems is similarly recognised. Janice, a post graduate student of Alan's, has been researching the efficacy of the teaching undertaken in the secondary science teacher course," said Elizabeth Taylor, Dean, James Goldston Faculty of Engineering and Physical Systems.

Education Minister Anna Bligh said CQU would use the award winnings to continue programs that inspire students and educators in the field of science.

\\\"The awards recognise outstanding and innovative contributions to science and science education in Queensland by students, teachers, and research institutions,\\\" she said.

END Photo1: Carolyn Male - Member for Glasshouse, Reyna Zipf - CQU Rockhampton, John Hunt- - CQU Bundaberg and Minister for Education Anna Bligh.

Photo 2: Dr Col Greensill with Elizabeth Taylor, Dean of the James Goldston Faculty of Engineering and Physical Systems