When Hannah Sutton started investigating a peptide from the Australian tree frog’s skin glands, she never imagined how far her Year 9 research project would take her.

Not only did Hannah discover a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, but she earned herself a trip to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in the U.S – and brought back a ‘Grand Award’.

Hannah, who conducted her project with support from the Menzies Institute in Tasmania, was one of nine BHP Billiton Science and Engineering Award finalists who were selected to attend Intel ISEF, and one of six who returned home with a prize.

Hear from Hannah in this video.

From tree frogs and Alzheimer’s, to a solar-powered device that delivers clean energy and water to remote communities, the spectrum of bright ideas was far and wide and shows the incredible minds, vision and talents of all the students.

Each year, more than seven million high school students around the globe develop original research projects and present their work at local science competitions with the hope of making it to the Intel ISEF. Only the best and brightest are invited to participate in this week-long celebration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The students who attended Intel ISEF in May were finalists of the BHP Billiton Science and Engineering Awards, a 35 year partnership between BHP Billiton, CSIRO and the Australian Science Teachers Association.

"I am proud of what the awards aim to achieve in encouraging students to explore, research and delight in the study of science, and challenge their understanding of the world around them," CEO Andrew Mackenzie said.

STEM education is the key to creating economic opportunity for Australia and the prosperity of the next generation. The BHP Billiton Science and Engineering Awards is one way through the BHP Billiton Foundation we support STEM: