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.

2024 Science Writing Titles:

  • El Niño
  • Avoiding Sporting Injuries - concussion, muscle injuries
  • Species Survival
  • Green Hydrogen
  • Impacts of Eutrophication
  • Space Junk
  • The World in Colour  - changes in seasons, indicators, spectroscopy
  • First Nation Science - The Science in Traditional Indigenous objects or processes (e.g. the physics behind weapon designs like the Boomerang, paint colours, medicines)
  • Science as a Human Endeavour (YEAR 11–12 LEVEL ONLY)

Key Dates

Friday 7 June - Friday 28 June - entry submitted online 

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.

Science Writing ideas

Posted by Oliphant Science Awards on 15 Jun 2022

Are you stuck on your Science Writing entry? Here are some great places to start or some resources to add to your current project! Click on the links below. Bioluminescence Have you been...  more...

Air Quality: Emissions and Monitoring

Posted by Oliphant Science Awards on 15 Jun 2022

We're excited to have the Clean Air Society of Australia & New Zealand sponsoring the Science Writing category this year! They have an amazing prize on offer for year 9-12 students for the...  more...

A short guide to Science Writing

Posted by Oliphant Science Awards on 1 Jul 2021

by Anita Suetrong Not sure where to start on your Science Writing entry? Check out Anita's tips for creating your entry in the video below! While you have to choose one of the...  more...

How to get started with your Science Writing or Multimedia project

Posted by Oliphant Science Awards on 4 Mar 2021

by Asira & Anita Suetrong Are you thinking about entering the Oliphant Science Awards but you're not sure where to start? Asira & Anita have put together a video (below) that gives you...  more...

Science Writing from a Judge's perspective

Posted by Oliphant Science Awards on 25 Feb 2021

by Glen Hutson Every year I sit for several weeks in August, reading the Science Writing entries for the Oliphant Science Awards. I’m judging. I’m assessing your submissions. But why? Why is Science...  more...

Inspiration for your Science Writing project!

Posted by Oliphant Science Awards on 23 Jun 2020

Are you looking for a starting point for your Science Writing project? First of all have you chosen your title? Don't forget you can only write on one of the titles listed below:...  more...