Concordia College students have achieved extraordinary results in this year’s Oliphant Science Awards, with students receiving their prizes at the presentation ceremony on Friday 20 October. The Oliphant Science Awards are a statewide competition recognising outstanding student work in a range of categories: crystal investigation, games, models and inventions, multimedia, photography, posters, programming, apps and robotics, scientific inquiry, and science writing.

Over 100 schools were involved with more than 2,500 entries this year. Prizes are awarded for the most outstanding student work in each category across two-year levels, for example Year 7-8.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Oliphant Science medal to Isaiah Ajaero, one of our 2022 Year 12 students. Isaiah won the Oliphant Science trophy in 2022, which is awarded to the student with the most outstanding science entry from the whole state. It is customary for the trophy winner to return the trophy the following year and be presented with the Oliphant Science medal to keep.

Another highlight was the presentation to Luke (11EBAB) for both first prize in Science Writing and the University of Adelaide: Sciences prize 7-12 for the most outstanding entry highlighting the benefits of scientific research to the community.

Other prize winners include:

• 1st prize: Laura (9TPRE) for Multimedia
• 1st prize: Oliver (8DLAN) for Programming, Apps and Robotics
• 1st prize: Sophie (8NBRO) for Science Writing
• 1st prize: Yolanna (8NBRO) for Multimedia
• 2nd prize: Rupert (Year 2TS) for Games
• 2nd prize: Everly (Year 2TS) for Multimedia
• 2nd prize: Wesley (Year 5TB) and Oliver (Year 5TB) for Models and Inventions
• 3rd prize: Julianna (12JLEY) for Science Writing

Highly commended certificates were awarded to:

• Lachlan (Year 2SD) for Multimedia
• Theodore (Year 2SD) and Cruz (Year 2TS) for Multimedia

Thanks to the following teachers for their contribution in supporting our students in preparing their entries: Rachel Muldoon, Emma Rieger, Laura Brown, David Lane and Lachlan Scott. 

I would like to also acknowledge the parents of the students involved for their important role in encouraging their children in the competition.

Congratulations to all of the students who participated in the Oliphant Science competition this year. It was very special to see Concordia College students achieving such incredible results across so many categories and year levels. We look forward to seeing more outstanding entries in 2024!

“Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why.” - Bernard Baruch

Dr Jennie Finch
Oliphant Science Awards Coordinator