Veena Nair: Indian-origin educator wins PM’s prize in Australia

 When Melbourne-based Veena Nair got a call from Australian Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, she thought it was probably a scam. So much so that when she decided to call back thinking that he wanted to comment on one of her LinkedIn posts, she was taken by surprise when informed that she had won the 2022 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science. Just to be assured, the Indian-origin mustered the courage to ask, “Are you sure?” And sure, she is. The head of technology at Melbourne’s Viewbank College, Veena has been awarded for demonstrating the practical application of STEAM to students, and how they can use their skills to make a real impact in the world.

“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 my family,” Nair said in a video message, adding, “Many people know about STEM — science, technology, engineering, and maths, but STEAM is with an A, which is for Art. Art brings out-of-the-box thinking, and it brings in creativity because students need STEAM skills to innovate, to become resilient, and to take risks.”

Veena Nair | Indian Origin | Global Indian

Veena Nair has won the 2020 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science.

With 20 years of experience in teaching science-based subjects across India, UAE and now Australia, Nair is a leading educator in STEAM who “has endeavoured to develop student and staff capacity in new and emerging technologies like 3D printing and designing, wearable technologies, and social entrepreneurship based on UN SDG through the Young Persons Plan for the Planet (YPPP) program,” says her LinkedIn profile.


Source : https://www.globalindian.com/story/global-indian-exclusive/veena-nair-indian-origin-educator-wins-pms-prize-in-australia/ 

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