Allan Alipio BHP winner

[Music plays and photographs flash through of young students engaging in various activities]

[Image changes and an Australian map and text appears: BHP Billiton Foundation Science and Engineering Awards 2018]

[Image changes to show Allan Alipio smiling at the camera and then the image changes to show Allan working on a computer in a classroom]

Allan Alipio: Hi, my name is Allan Alipio, science teacher of CAPS Coolgardie and I was the winner of the 2019 BHP Foundation Science and Engineering Teacher Awards.

[Image changes to show Allan talking to the camera and text appears: Allan Alipio, 2019 BHP Foundation Science and Engineering Teacher Award Winner]

I was born in the Philippines and it’s very, very tough like we’ll be living like from one meal to the next meal.

[Image changes to show Allan’s fingers operating a keyboard]

Like we don’t have the luxuries that other kids have.

[Image changes to show a “Welcome to Science Class” sign on a pin up board and then the image changes to show Allan doing an experiment]

My parents always told me that the only thing that we can come out of poverty is a good education.

[Image changes to show Allan talking to the camera]

So, I didn’t spend time playing outside. It’s like focus myself on learning, learning, learning things.

[Image changes to show a student writing at a desk and the camera zooms in on the student’s face and then the image changes to show a female student putting on safety goggles]

Just having experience teaching around the world gave me ideas, especially different approaches in teaching science to the students.

[Image changes to show Allan talking to the camera]

So, whatever things I’ve learned in China for example, I can bring back to America, I can use it in Australia, like especially in science competitions in terms of how can they give, or how to come up with good science projects or winning ones.

[Image changes to show various students moving around the classroom and then the camera zooms in on one of the female student’s faces]

So, as you all know our students are mostly indigenous kids.

[Image changes to show a student spooning a white powder into plastic disposable cups and then the image changes to show Allan talking to the camera]

I make it a point that during the start of their school year there are a lot of experiments, a lot of explosions, burning just to get their engagement, just to get their interest a bit.

[Camera zooms in on Allan’s face as he talks to the camera]

And then during the start of the year I always come up with a science question and that is, “Give me a science project that can change the world”.

[Images move through of Allan talking to students as they do an experiment, Allan talking to the camera, a student stirring liquid in a disposable cup, and Allan talking to the students]

So, personally when I see a kid achieve something at the end of the school year it makes me want to cry because mostly they’re all indigenous and they’ve never been to any programmes like any awards or competitions like those and then it’s their first time.

[Camera zooms in on the students doing the experiment and then the image changes to show Allan with a couple of students, and then the image changes to show Allan talking to the camera]

So, this year when I saw a kid who has not, has not any interest in science but then she receive an award and the smile on their faces during the awards ceremony when they get their prizes, their certificates, then I’m so proud of them. Like, the smile is something for me.

[Image changes to show students completing the experiment again and then the image shows Allan watching the students]

Like that keeps me moving and striving for a while to, makes me like want to work harder even more to make these kids achieve.

[Image changes to show Allan talking to the camera and then smiling at the camera]

Everyone can teach. Anyone can teach science but if the passion is there then it makes the teacher keeps going and teaching.

[Music plays and the CSIRO logo and text appears: Australia’s innovation catalyst]