Annie's lessons are student-centred and her learning activities build knowledge and understanding while promoting active engagement and critical thinking. An interesting photo, a puzzling question, the local environment, an object or a news article, children’s curiosity about their world, might form the basis of inquiries. Annie sources everyday materials for hands-on science investigations and inspires her students to carry out fair tests and solve problems. Annie encourages students’ self-belief and sense of agency to carry out independent research then creatively share and present their findings.

Annie goes above and beyond her classroom teaching load. She gives freely of her time to mentor students and meets with their families to ensure science is a highlight of their school experience. She provides countless opportunities for students to embrace further learning and real-world science experiences. Students have achieved outstanding success with her encouragement and guidance, most notably 30 of the total 104 national awards since 2013 in the primary school category of the Australian Museum Eureka Sleek Geeks competition.

This year, Anna Prokhorov (Year 6) won the 2023 Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize for her movie, Green Infrastructure - The Solution to Coastal Erosion.

PLC Sydney Year 5 students, Caitlyn Walker and Amelia Lai, and Year 6 students Tsambika Galanos and Ellie Cole (pictured above), came first and second respectively in the Primary School division of the 2018 Sleek Geeks Competition at the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes Award.

Annie’s desire to make science accessible for all extends to the broader community. She has been involved in curriculum review, science teaching associations, gifted and talented workshops and delivering professional development at conferences and workshops for colleagues in local and international, public and independent schools. Her work has had a very positive impact on science teaching in NSW.

Left: Annie Martin with her 2023 NSW Premier's Award for Innovation in STEM Teaching.

The 2023 Premier's Prizes for Science & Engineering (L to R): Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, the Hon Anoulack Chanthivong MP, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Professor Cathie Sherrington, Dr Chang Xu, Professor Michael Biercuk (rear), Emeritus Professor Trevor McDougall, 2023 NSW Scientist of the Year, Dr Deborah Burnett, Distinguished Professor Jie Lu, Dr Jodi Rowley, Her Excellency the Hon Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of NSW, Mr Dennis Wilson, Dr Tony Murphy, Professor Shinichi Nakagawa, Ms Annie-Louise Martin, the Hon Penny Sharpe MLC, Minister for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Heritage.

The NSW Premier's Prizes for Science & Engineering seek to recognise excellence in science and engineering, and reward leading researchers for cutting-edge work that has generated economic, environmental, health, social or technological benefits for New South Wales.

Emeritus Professor and globally renowned oceanographer, Trevor McDougall AC FRS FAA from UNSW Sydney, was named NSW Scientist of the Year for his outstanding work on the ocean’s role in climate change, physical oceanography and as the world’s foremost authority on ocean thermodynamics.

You're in great company Annie. Congratulations, we are so thrilled for you!