Indian-origin teacher, Veena Nair has become the first Indian-Australian to be presented with Australia’s prestigious Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching. The award ceremony was held on December 5th at Parliament House in Canberra and was attended by leading figures from the educational sector.
Veena, who is a science teacher at the Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane, Queensland was recognised for her enthusiasm and commitment to teaching students about science and mathematics. She is known for incorporating modern technology into her lessons as well as providing new methods of communication between teachers and students. She believes that this helps foster an atmosphere of curiosity and collaboration amongst both teachers and students. Additionally, she actively encourages her students to pursue further study in STEM fields by providing them with resources such as industry contacts, extracurricular activities, internships etc.
With over two decades of experience teaching science, medical, engineering, and nature subjects in India, UAE, and now Australia, Nair is widely considered a leading STEAM educator who has dedicated his career to acquiring staff and students’ abilities in emerging technologies like 3D printing and design, wearable tech, and social entrepreneurship. His late training to the United Nations SDG through the Young Persons Plan for Planet (YPPP) has guaranteed students in new and emerging technologies.
A video message from Nair stated, “To be recognised in the Prime Minister’s prizes for science, I am deeply humbled. I am very grateful to my school, to my colleagues, to my students, and to my family”.
