October 19, 2017

UOW alumnus wins PM’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools

Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) graduate Neil Bramsen recognised for his ability to foster students’ enthusiasm, knowledge and skills in science

University of Wollongong (UOW) alumnus Neil Bramsen is the recipient of the 2017 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools.

Mr Bramsen graduated from UOW in 1996 as a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) and is now the assistant principal at Mount Ousley Public School in Wollongong.

He was presented with the prize by the Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull, at a dinner in the Great Hall at Parliament House, Canberra, on Wednesday, 18 October.

Mr Bramsen received the prize for his innovative partnerships with scientists, the community and other schools to foster students’ enthusiasm, knowledge and skills in science.

One of the ways he generates enthusiasm in his students is by getting them out of the classroom into the outside world where he teaches them how science can address real-life problems.

“The outdoor classroom is probably my favourite place to be,” Mr Bramsen said.

In the outdoor classroom at Mount Ousley Public School, you might find primary students watching and recording bird sightings, down at the beach assessing the level of marine debris, or perhaps reading or just thinking in the school’s butterfly garden.

And it extends far beyond the school. Students have talked with astronauts on the International Space Station and made global connections through Skype with schools in Africa and America.

Mr Bramsen sees science as an enabler of learning across the curriculum.

“It’s a way of hooking kids into learning. We want kids to enjoy school. It’s got to be a balance of fun and learning,” he said.

Over the past 10 years at Sussex Inlet Public School and now at Mount Ousley, Mr Bramsen has renewed science teaching across both schools, working with the NSW Science and Maths syllabi to create opportunities for primary children to work scientifically and technically across content areas.

For example, when the school kinder had an empty sandbox, students were invited to solve the problem.

They developed their own ways of measuring the amount of sand needed to fill it. Three weeks later, with credit card in hand, the students phoned up the supplier and placed the order.

Students also created the butterfly garden themselves. They researched, costed, ordered and constructed the garden where they could watch the life cycle of the monarch butterfly, and just use the space for reading and quiet activities.

Mount Ousley Public School is not far from the beach, so Mr Bramsen established a marine debris project where students visited the beach and conducted surveys. Using a CSIRO TeachWild Fellowship he had been awarded, the students Skyped researchers at sea to discuss marine science and the impact of plastic debris on wildlife.

His students have also conducted experiments in space using the Cubes in Space program. They generated a research question, ‘Do magnets work in space?’, and created an experiment within a 16cm cube to answer the question. The cube was launched into near-space on a NASA sounding rocket and then returned to the students to see how their experiment worked.

Students also link with peers around the world. They’ve Skyped with experts in Kenya, Yellowstone National Park, and various US states, presenting to each other on their local climate, geography, and wildlife.

Mr Bramsen’s personal journey included electrical trade studies, outdoor education (in Wales), before settling on teaching as his passion.

He actively shares all that he’s learnt with the wider community of primary school teachers through mentorship within the school, articles for the NSW Science Teachers’ Journal, his extensive personal website and social media activities, and presenting at conferences and demonstration classes.