Click on an item in the list below to read a description of the award and download an application.
All applications are in Adobe Acrobat format
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Exemplary Middle Level and High School Principal Awards
This program recognizes one principal who has demonstrated leadership in developing, implementing, and maintaining an outstanding science program; supported staff development in science; promoted positive relationships between the school science program and the community; and has been an advocate and leader for the development of science process skills and positive attitudes toward science among children and teachers.
Eligibility: Middle level and high school principals
Award: $2,000, one-year membership in NSTA, and up to $500 to attend NSTA's National Conference
Download an application
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Exemplary Middle Level and High School Science Teaching Award
This program recognizes one middle level and one high school teacher who have demonstrated exemplary science teaching in one or more of the following areas: creativity using science teaching materials; design and use of innovative teaching plans and ideas; and development and implementation of department, school, or school-community programs that improve science instruction and/or stimulate interest in science and the learning of science.
Eligibility: Full-time middle level and high school science teachers
Award: $2,000, a one-year membership in NSTA, and up to $500 to attend NSTA's National Conference
Download an application
DCAT “Making a Difference” Award
This award will recognize and honor excellence in a science program developed and implemented by middle-level science teachers, grades 6-12. Entries must show innovative and effective teaching strategies combined with a science program that has influenced students to explore and investigate science and its application to global problems.
Eligibility: Innovative middle-level science programs
Award: $2,500 to be used to enhance or expand the winning science program; the winning school’s lead science teacher and principal will be awarded coach airfare and two nights’ hotel accommodation to attend NSTA’s National Conference
Download an application
Delta Education/Frey-Neo/CPO Science Education Awards for Excellence in Inquiry-based Science Teaching
The Delta Education/Frey-Neo/CPO Science Awards for Excellence in Inquiry-based Science Teaching will recognize and honor three (3) full-time PreK–12 teachers of science who successfully use inquiry-based science to enhance teaching and learning in their classroom.
Eligibility:PreK–12 teachers
Award: $1,500 towards expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference, and $1,500 for the awardee
Download an application
Distinguished Informal Science Education Award
This award honors one NSTA member who has made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of science education in an informal or nontraditional school setting, such as a science-technology center, museum, or community science center.
Eligibility: NSTA members who are not classroom teachers and who have demonstrated their dedication to informal science education
Award: Formal citation, three nights’ hotel accommodation, and $500 towards expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference
Download an application
Distinguished Service to Science Education Awards
These awards honor NSTA members who, through active leadership and scholarly endeavor over a significant period of time, have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of education in the sciences and science teaching.
Eligibility: NSTA members who have shown long-term dedication to science education
Award: Formal citation, three nights’ hotel accommodation, and up to $500 towards expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference
Download an application
Distinguished Teaching Awards
This award honors NSTA members who are teachers that have made extraordinary contributions to the field of science teaching.
Eligibility: K–college-level teachers
Award: Formal citation, three nights’ hotel accommodation, and $500 toward expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference
Download an application
Faraday Science Communicator Award
This award, named in honor of Michael Faraday (1791-1867), the English chemist and physicist who is known for his pioneering experiments in electricity and magnetism. Through lectures and letters, Faraday led people of all ages to a greater understanding of the natural scientific laws that govern us all. The Faraday Science Communicator Award will recognize and reward an individual or organization that has inspired and elevated the public's interest in an appreciation of science.
Eligibility: Individual—The individual will not be a classroom teacher, but will work in, or have developed a compatible setting for science communication: i.e., museum, nature center, zoo, state park, aquarium, radio, television, internet, or other science-rich institutions or media. The individual may also be connected to a science setting thru his or her involvement with civic organizations and child-education facilities: e.g., preK child-development centers, 4-H clubs, Girl and Boy Scouts, Girls and Boys Clubs of America, and so on. Organizational—The organization will facilitate and provide exemplary opportunities for science communication to the public. The organization will desire to instill in the public an appreciation for science through communication efforts at the local, state, and national levels.
Award: Awardee will be honored at the Awards Banquet during the NSTA National Conference on Science Education; the awardee receives an all-expense-paid trip (up to $2,500) to attend the Conference; all awardees will receive recognition in NSTA publications and will be given an opportunity to participate in a poster session during the conference
Download an application
Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers
The Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers provides selected K-12 teachers (up to 25) in their first three years of teaching with funds to attend the annual National Conference on Science Education. Award recipients will be mentored, tracked, and provided with continuing opportunities for meaningful involvement with NSTA and its activities.
Eligibility: To be eligible, a teacher must have taught less than three years full-time at the time of application and be an NSTA member in good standing; to the extent possible, recipients must have been a student member of NSTA as a preservice teacher
Award: The award consists of up to $1,000 to be used to attend the annual National Conference; recipients will be invited to attend a variety of workshops and presentations that are of particular interest to new teachers at the annual National Conference
Download an application
NSTA Distinguished Fellow Award
This award recognizes NSTA members who have made extraordinary contributions to science education through personal commitment to education, specifically science teaching or science; educational endeavors and original work that position recipients as exemplary leaders in their field; significant contributions to the profession that reflect dedication to NSTA as well the entire educational community.
Eligibility: This award is open to longstanding (at least 10 years) NSTA members
Award: Awardees will be recognized at the NSTA Awards Banquet in conjunction with the NSTA National Conference
Download an application
NSTA Legacy Award
This NSTA award posthumously recognizes long-standing members of NSTA for significant lifelong service to NSTA and contributions to science education.
Eligibility: This award is open to long-standing members of NSTA (minimum 15 years) who have been deceased for no more than 10 years; an individual may be nominated within ten (10) years after their death; however, there may be variances to these criteria; the NSTA Awards and Recognitions Committee should be consulted in writing prior to recommending an individual more than ten (10) years after their death
Award: One or more individuals may be selected by the NSTA Awards and Recognitions Committee to be honored at the annual Awards Banquet during the NSTA National Conference; a plaque will be presented to the family of the honoree; NSTA will provide two nights' lodging, and up to $500 towards travel expenses for a family member to attend the NSTA National Conference; a permanent Legacy Award display, located at the NSTA headquarters, will include the honoree’s name
Download an application
Robert H. Carleton Award
This is the most prestigious award an NSTA member can receive. The Robert H. Carleton Award recognizes one individual who has made outstanding contributions to, and provided leadership in, science education at the national level and to NSTA in particular. It is NSTA's highest honor. This award is sponsored by the Dow Chemical Company.
Eligibility: NSTA members who are K–college-level science educators
Award: $5,000, a formal citation, and an all-expenses-paid trip to NSTA's National Conference
Download an application
SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Environmental Educator of the Year
This award recognizes and rewards the outstanding teacher out of eight award winning programs selected to receive the SeaWorld Environmental Excellence Award.
Award: $5,000 and an all expense paid trip to attend the NSTA National Conference
For an application, or for more information, visit the SeaWorld/Busch Gardens website.
Shell Science Teaching Award
This award recognizes one outstanding classroom science teacher (K–12) who has had a positive impact on his or her students, school, and community through exemplary classroom science teaching.
Eligibility: K–12 classroom science teachers
Award: $10,000 and an all-expense paid trip to attend NSTA’s National Conference; two finalists will also receive all-expense-paid trips to the conference
Download an application
Sylvia Shugrue Award for Elementary School Teachers
This award honors one elementary school teacher who has established (or is establishing) an interdisciplinary, inquiry-based lesson plan. The lesson plan will fully reference sources of information and any relevant National Science Education Standards and benchmarks found in the Atlas of Science Literacy.
Eligibility: Elementary school teachers (grades K–6); applicants must be a full-time teacher with a minimum of three years of experience
Award: The award consists of $1,000 and up to $500 to attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education; the recipient of the award will be honored during the Awards Banquet at the NSTA Conference
Download an application
Vernier Technology Awards
The Vernier Technology Awards will recognize and reward the innovative use of data collection technology using a computer, graphing calculator, or other handheld in the science classroom. A total of seven awards are presented: one award at the elementary level (grades K–5); two awards at the middle level (grades 6–8); three awards at the high school level (grades 9–12); one award at the college level.
Eligibility: K–college
Award: Each award will consist of $1,000 towards expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference, $1,000 in cash for the teacher, and $1,000 in Vernier products
Download an application
VSP Vision Care Vision of Science Award
This award recognizes one classroom science teacher (grades K–12) who has developed creative, innovative science lessons that develop an understanding of eye health and vision.
Eligibility: K–12 classroom science teachers
Award: The winning school will receive a check for $3000 to be used toward furthering the study, teaching, and learning of eye vision and health; the teacher will receive two checks: one for $2000 and one for $500 towards travel expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference; awardees will be honored at the Awards Banquet on Friday, April�6, 2007, during the NSTA National Conference; the teacher will also receive a one-year membership in NSTA
Note: The $3000 award is to be used exclusively for the study, teaching, and learning of eye vision and health; the winning school will be requested to prepare a follow-up report detailing the program’s expansion
Download an application
