CQU Bachelor of Learning Management students John McKenzie, Rebecca Taylor and Shontelle Lewis receive their Peter Doherty Awards for Excellence in Science and Science Education.A Childers university student and her 10-year-old son have both been awarded science prizes in separate competitions.

CQU Bachelor of Learning Management student Rebecca Taylor was awarded with a Peter Doherty Award for Excellence in Science and Science Education, while her son Jake received a Distinction for Science in the NSWUni Competition, putting him in the top 10% in Queensland for the category.

"We found out our success at about the same time - we found it pretty exciting," Rebecca explained.

Rebecca was one of 3 successful CQU students to receive a Peter Doherty Award. She joined Shontelle Lewis and John McKenzie in receiving undergraduate science teaching scholarships.

Rebecca was a former STEPS (Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies) graduate (as were Shontelle and John) who used the program to enter the BLM (Bachelor of Learning Management) degree, striving for a career in high school science teaching.

"STEPS definitely got me to where I am today. It helped me to find my confidence which I had slowly lost over the years. It gave me back a ‘can do' attitude."

"The Peter Doherty Award for Excellence in Science and Science Education was all about demonstrating my passion for science and science education.

"It is a real honour to be one of 5 in Queensland to be chosen for the award in our category. Peter Doherty himself was a joint recipient of a Nobel Prize in 1996, although I don't feel I will ever be in his league, I do hope that this award will show to prospective employers just how passionate I am about teaching science."

As part of Rebecca's award she received a $5000 scholarship to contribute towards the rest of her study.

The Peter Doherty Awards for Excellence in Science and Science Education are open to students, scientific laboratory assistants and teachers in state and non-state schools and all Queensland-based tertiary institutions, industries, businesses and research organisations.

The Awards recognise and reward students, teachers, schools and organisations demonstrating outstanding and innovative contributions to science and science education in Queensland.

Rebecca said that science was our way of making sense of the world and everything it in.

"Science is a way of knowing. The fact that science is so broad, I could never get tired of it."

Rebecca hopes to be able to teach young people how to make sense of their world and to help them develop inquisitive minds ... not just go along with others' decisions but to make their own informed summations.

Rebecca will complete her studies in 2009 and intends on teaching in the Bundaberg/Childers district due to her family commitments in the area.