Copy of Copy of Copy of Weekly Bulletin (Oct 23, 2022)

Science and Engineering Challenge wins UN award

From the Facebook page of the challenge:

"The Science and Engineering Challenge has been awarded the prestigious United Nations Day Honour for 2022 in recognition of the Challenge's embodiment of UN values, working for over 20 years in partnership with local organisers to advance and promote science in the interests of peace and sustainable development. Our program is the result of an enormous effort from people all across the country. We were delighted to share the honour with representatives of this team and would like to extend our congratulations to everyone involved with the Science and Engineering challenge.

Thank you to our esteemed guests including Professor Alex Zelinsky Vice Chancellor and Professor Juanita Todd Pro Vice Chancellor The University of Newcastle, Australia, Professor Steve Weller Science and Engineering Challenge Director, Emeritus Professor John O'Connor current chair of the National Science and Engineering Challenge Council, Tim Besley former chair of the National Council and Bob Nelson Challenge director from 2000-2010.

We would like to specially acknowledge the vital contribution of the many different Rotary Australia clubs to the success of the Science and Engineering Challenge. We were honoured by the presence of Brian Atkins Newcastle SEC Regional Chair, Richard O'Leary Kempsey SEC Regional Chair, Neville Parsons Rotary District Governor D9660 and Rod Aistrope key member of the Goulburn and Bowral/Mittagong SEC committees.

Thank you to everyone involved in delivering the Science and Engineering Challenge to every state and territory in Australia.

Congratulations on providing thousands of students the chance to get involved in STEM.

This award is in recognition of the program’s longstanding efforts to advance inclusive and accessible STEM education and engagement in Australia, and alignment with the principles of science-based sustainable development, as defined by the UN.

The Commonwealth of Australia was a founding member of the United Nations and remains an active participant in the UN today. As the pre-eminent institution promoting the objectives of the UN in Australia, the purpose of UNAA is to inform, inspire and engage Australians to create a safer, fairer, more sustainable world. The prestigious UN Day Honour was established to recognise an individual or organisation in Australia that has made a significant contribution to the work and purpose of the UN.

2022 has been designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD2022). UNAA NSW believes that, as a community-focused, partnership-based, interdisciplinary initiative designed to “inspire more young people to make a difference in the world”, The Science and Engineering Challenge exemplifies the spirit and ambitions of both IYBSSD2022 and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Previous recipients of the prestigious UNAA United Nations Day Honour are:

• 2017 Australian Red Cross

• 2018 The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG

• 2019 Reconciliation Australia

• 2020 Sam Mostyn

• 2021 Landcare Australia

• 2022 Science and Engineering Challenge

Melbourne Cup, Nov 1 2022