Coordinator Information

Coordinator Information Downloads

Click here to view the 2025 Project Categories including topic titles for Photography, Posters & Science Writing.

Please find below information and helpful downloads for all our Oliphant Science Awards Coordinators to share with their staff and participants!

2024 Navigating the Oliphant Science Awards in your School Webinar recording

Key Dates 2025

Applications for 2025 New Schools Incentive, Country Schools Bursary and Regional Student Travel Fund are now open!

TERM 1

Tuesday 14 January - Student registrations open.
Look at Information at the Oliphant Science Awards website, distribute Student Information, Category Information and Rules to students.
Monday 17 February - Coordinator Webinar which this year, is not just for new coordinators. The changes for the 2024 competition will be outlined - the webinar is a good opportunity for you to ask any questions!
Monday 3 March - judging registrations open
Sunday 23 March - applications for New Schools Incentive and Country School Bursary close.
Distribute Registration Forms - Negotiate a date with your students to return their Student Registration Form with enough time to complete your online registrations before the closing date (Sunday 18 May).

TERM 2

Sunday 18 May - Judging Registrations close.
Sunday 18 May - Registrations to be completed & entered online; we recommend that you keep a copy of the forms for your records (SASTA does not require any copies unless specifically requested).
Sunday 25 May - Online amendments period closes
Friday 30 May - Second and final amendment submissions (through Google Form) close
Friday 6 June - Regional Student Travel Fund applications close
Friday 6 June - Sunday 29 June - Science Writing, Scientific Inquiry and Multimedia and reports for Programming, Apps and Robotics MUST be submitted online. Please ensure Electronic Cover Sheets are submitted with each entry (these can be downloaded by Coordinators via their Coordinators Login).
From Friday 6 July - Round 1 Judging: Electronic Entries (Science Writing, Scientific Inquiry and Multimedia) sent out to judges. These must be judged and returned to SASTA by Sunday 20 July.

TERM 3

Monday 21 - Sunday 27 July - Crystal Investigations and Models & Inventions reports and risk assessments MUST be submitted online. Supporting documents for Games (Supporting Videos for submission) may also be submitted. Visit the online project submission page for full details.
Saturday 26 July - Programming, Apps & Robotics Judging Day (by appointment only!).
Wednesday 30 July - Crystal Investigation, Games, Models & Inventions, Photography and Posters to be delivered to Adelaide Showgrounds. Full details to be provided to coordinators closer to the date.
Thursday 31 July - Round 2 Judging (Crystal Investigation, Games, Models & Inventions, Photography and Posters)
Friday 1 to Sunday 3 August - Open Day at Science Alive!
Monday 4 August - Project collection day

Open Day 2025

We’re excited to partner with Science Alive! again for our Open Day event in 2025!

Models & Inventions entries and winning entries from all other categories will be on display from Friday 1 August - Sunday 3 August 2025 at the Adelaide Showgrounds.

There will also be a range of come and try activities as well as a full program of exhibitions and science shows on offer from Science Alive!

If you are a country/regional school you are eligible for the 2025 Regional Student Travel Fund to support students to attended Open Days. Find out more information here.

All students who enter the Oliphant Science Awards will be eligible to apply for discounted entry tickets. More information will be provided closer to the date.

TERM 4

Friday 17th October 2025 - Presentation Ceremony (Invitation Only).
Friday 24th October 2025 - Coordinator Celebration Function.
October 2025 - All Participation and Highly Commended Certificates will be sent to Schools. Professional Development Certificates will be sent to judges.
November 2025 - time to start planning your 2026 Citizen Science projects!
December 2025 - Topic titles for 2026 available on the Oliphant Science Awards website

Please be advised these dates are subject to change, times to be advised at a later date.