Ken Silburn is a science educator, communicator, Certified Google Trainer, Microsoft Expert and passionate about teaching 21st Century Skills and increasing the educational opportunities of students on a global scale. 

Ken has extensive experience in education as a former Head Teacher with the NSW Department of Education and Training, and is an inaugral STEM Ambassador for Science and Technology Australia, currently the President of LAZSTA (Metropolitan South West Science Teachers Association) and Coordinator and founder of the iSTEM (Invigorating Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) project delivering science enrichment programs for high school science students and the US Space Academy Program.

He is internationally renowned in science education, especially in the area of Environmental and Space Science.  He is a strong advocate for engaging students in STEM careers and is currently a member of the Advisory Board for the International Mars One project and a Director of the Australian Mars Society. He has participated in NASA Spaceward Bound Expeditions to the Mojave, Desert USA, Pilbara and Arkaroola expeditions in Australia, and in 2016 was a member of the education team for the NASA India high altitude Expedition to the Ladakh Region.  

Ken is currently a volunteer presenter for the Australian Conservation Foundation, Climate Reality Project.

In 2016, Ken personally commenced a long-term project to provide science outreach programs and teacher professional development activities to Indian and African Schools.  This included teaching in remote schools in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya.

His work in promoting “Science by Doing” in teaching science was used by the Indian Department of Education to produce training videos on science education.  The resulting series will be broadcast to excess of 2.5 million students.

Ken was the recipient of the 2013 NSW State Award for Innovation in Science and Mathematics Teaching, the 2014 NSW Australian Academy of Physics Award for Community Outreach.

In 2015 he was the recipient of the Australian Prime Minister’s Science Prize for Excellence in Secondary Science Teaching.  He is now recognised as a Global Teacher Ambassador, having been acknowledged as one of the top ten teachers in the world, from over 23 000 nominations, through the Varkey Global Teacher Prize and as a recipient of the prestigious Dr Paul Brock Medal from the Australian College of Educators.