Peter Spratt Medal presented to Mike Stone

Mike Stone is known to most science educators across Aotearoa. A teacher for 25 years, including serving as Head of Faculty and receiving a Woolf Fisher Award before becoming a visiting lecturer and science facilitator with University of Auckland. More recently, Mike works as a facilitator for New Zealand Association of Science Educators (NZASE) and Biology Educators of Aotearoa New Zealand (BEANZ) - including leading the PLD team for NZASE, serves on the Subject Expert Group, and - much like Peter Spratt did - authors the NZASE newsletter, as well as what many know her for - the weekly publication of Mike’s News.

About the Peter Spratt Medal

The Peter Spratt Medal is awarded every SciCon to a person who has made a significant, long term contribution to science education in New Zealand.

Peter was, by all accounts, an incredible person who brought science teachers together, promoting and supporting science education across a wide range of initiatives. Beginning as a teacher, he became head of department at Wesley College, he served as the executive officer for NZASE, played a pivotal role in the formation of Science Technicians' Association of New Zealand (STANZ), became a schools science advisor, working with teachers to implement the New Zealand Curriculum, and joined Royal Society Te Apārangi as a Senior Manager for Education, where he expanded the Science Teaching Leadership Programme. He also authored a termly newsletter for science teachers.

Peter passed away suddenly in 2007, and NZASE honour his memory with this award.