Budding journalists and science writers, here is your chance to inspire, impress and inform your readers.
Click here to download a PDF copy of the rules for Science Writing.
Click here to download the Science Writing project checklist.
Click here to download a copy of the judging rubric.
2025 Science Writing Titles:
The descriptions in italics are just starting points. Feel free to explore and interpret each topic in your own unique way—creativity and originality are encouraged!
- DNA: Nature’s Secret Code - Discover how DNA works like a secret code, telling every living thing how to grow and survive.
- Exploring the Ocean's Depths: Unseen Worlds Beneath the Waves - Discuss the exciting discoveries made in the deep sea, focusing on how new technologies help us understand these mysterious environments.
Key Dates
Friday 6 June - Sunday 29 June 2025 - entry submitted online
- Nature’s Secret Languages: How Plants and Animals Communicate - Explore how animals use sound and plants use chemical signals to communicate, survive, and interact with their environment.
- The Future of Space Exploration: Safeguarding Life Beyond Earth - Explore how space exploration could help protect species from extinction by finding new habitats or learning from other planets.
- AI: Nature’s New Ally in Conservation - Investigate how artificial intelligence is being used to protect endangered species and ecosystems, with examples of current technologies.
- Conservation and Rewilding - The role of rewilding in restoring ecosystems and preserving biodiversity.
- Energy Innovations - How advancements in renewable energy technologies and waste-to-energy solutions are transforming the future of energy and waste management.
- The Science of Food Preservation - Techniques and technologies ensuring food security in a changing world.
- Sports Technology – Innovations that changed the game - Explore the advancements in technology that have transformed how we play and watch sports.
- Science as a Human Endeavour (YEAR 11–12 LEVEL ONLY).
A successful Oliphant Science Awards Science Writing entry:
- Is well researched and has accurate science content.
- Will communicate ideas clearly.
- Will be original, innovative and the student's own work.
- Will have accurate punctuation and spelling.
- Will have a References section that acknowledges all sources of information (for students in Years 7-8, 9-10 & 11-12, this will include in-text referencing).
Rules for Science Writing Entries:
- You must write on one of the titles listed above. Please ensure the title is clearly identified on your entry.
- The Science Writing entry must be the work of one person (no group entries).
- You must include a reference list that contains all the sources of information that you used. This includes all books, websites, magazines, and any people you have interviewed.
- Appropriate “in-text” referencing is expected for students in Years 7-8, 9-10 & 11-12.
- If you quote directly from a source, you must use quotation marks and include a reference to the source of the quote.
- Science Writing can be in a number of different genres such as:
- Recount
- Narrative
- Explanation
- Discussion
- Response
- Information Report
- Procedure
- Persuasion / Exposition
- Description
- Comic (graphic writing)
- Infographic
- You may include pictures and graphic illustrations. However, if illustrations or pictures are copied you must include a reference next to the illustration or picture.
- Write or word-process your entry yourself. If there are special reasons for using help in typing or editing, then this help must be acknowledged after your reference list.
- The length of your Science Writing entry depends on your year level:
- Year R – 2: do not exceed 200 words;
- Year 3 - 4 and 5 - 6: do not exceed 800 words;
- Year 7 - 8, 9 -10, 11 - 12: do not exceed 1,500 words.
- A word count must be included on your entry (please note: titles, labels and referencing are not included in the word count). There can be up to a 10% tolerance of the word limit.
- AI Tools are not permitted for any aspect of science writing.
In presenting your Science Writing entry (online submission ONLY):
The following documents will need to be uploaded for your project:
- Cover sheet with your Student ID details attached (your Coordinator will give you this)
- Electronic copy of your science writing entry - Entries will be accepted as PDF or Word documents only. We cannot guarantee judges will be able to access any other file types.
For full details on electronic submission, click here.
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