Young Scientist
To encourage and reward research and education on environmental issues, STEP has aligned with Young Scientist and each year we donate a prize of $250 for the best environmental project. The competition is organised by the Science Teachers' Association of New South Wales and is open to students from kindergarten to year 12.
| 2023 | Isabelle Fisher (Roseville College) Investigating the effects of an established arbuscular mycorrhizal network on seed germination and seedling growth for Acacia linifolia and Acacia ulicifolia |
| 2022 | Lily Rofail (PLC Sydney) Water Hyssop (Bacopa monnieri) and Avocado Skin Powder can Alter the Amount of Heavy Metals in Aquatic Environments |
| 2021 | Chloe LeMap (PLC Sydney) Cool the Sand, Save the Sea Turtles |
| 2020 | Maja Dalby-Ball Olson (Barrenjoey High School) Variation in Flammability in the Flora in the Sydney Sandstone Vegetation Community |
| 2019 | Suzanne Jones (Redeemer Baptist School) The Call of the Wild: A Phrenological Study of Circadas in Lake Parramatta Reserve |
| 2018 | Beatrix Farley (Castle Cove Public School) Are there Microplastics on the Beaches of Australia’s East Coast? |
| 2017 | Evette Khaziran (Redeemer Baptist School) Give me a Home among the Gum Trees |
| 2016 | Jade Moxey (Sapphire Coast Anglican College) Grazing Sheep on Deadly Fireweed: A BaaaaD Situation? |
| 2015 | Jade Moxey (Sapphire Coast Anglican College) The Spread of Seeds through Cattle |
| 2014 | Nicole Sung (PLC Sydney) Recycling of Grey Water |
| 2013 | Aiden Giragossian (Barker College) Biofuel: Ethanol towards a Greener and Secure Energy Future |
| 2012 | Daniel Dell’Armi (De La Salle Revesby Heights) Is the Dye-pigment Solar Cell the Solution to our Scarce Amount of Renewable Energy Sources? Highly commended Aoife Hogan (Hills Grammar School): Miscanthus – Fuel of the Future? |
| 2011 | Hilary Knowles (Chevalier College) What is the Best Method of Filtering Pond Water to Make it Drinkable? |
| 2010 | Meena Sritharan (Strathfield Girls High School) How to Clean Up an Oil Spill: Does the Water Temperature of the Ocean Affect the Time to Clean up an Oil Spill? |
| 2009 | Rebecca Dawkins (Sydney Girls High School) Effect of Colour and Roofing Material on House Temperature |
| 2008 | Sam Wightman (Mullumbimby High School) Acidic Rain Water from Acid Sulphate Soils Highly commended Jessica Dunn (Bowral High School) Do Willows Affect the Quality of Water in Rivers? |
| 2007 | Nina Pinto (Hornsby Girls High School) The Habitat of the Marine Snail, Nerita atramentosa, and the Tenacity of its Foot in Various Salinities Highly commended Ellenore Forrester (Redeemer Baptist School, Parramatta) for her excellent research into an Enviropump |
| 2006 | Robbie Bishop-Taylor (Great Lakes College, Forster Campus) The Identification of Critical Salinity Thresholds for Upper Estuarine Plants |
| 2005 | Laura Woollacott An Investigation into the Pollution Stopper and its Effects on the Water Quality of Moores Creek |
| 2004 | Daniel Tracey (Barker College) Analysing the Effects of Different Types of Grey Water on Plants Highly commended David Llewellyn (Great Lakes College) Investigating the Effect of Riparian Weeds on Stream Invertebrates |
| 2003 | Andrew Stewart (Karabar Distance Education Centre) Artificial Wetlands: Can Carex appressa Prevent Eutrophication in Australian Waterways? |
| 2002 | Gregory Howe (Fort Street High School) Feral Fish: Is the Plague Minnow in the Myall River System? |
| 2001 | Lui Weber (Wollumbin High School) conducted a survey on the endangered red-fruited ebony, Diospyros mabacea |