Professor John O'Connor has demonstrated outstanding leadership in science and engineering outreach trhough his initiation and development of the Science & Engineering Challenge and SMART programs fros chools. These innovative programs are having a substantial impact on young people's enthusiasm for science and maths at school and a demonstrated influence on their choice of later-year subjects and subsequent tertiary studies. The Challenge program, which now reaches over 18,000 students at 640 schools in all states and territories, emphasises the importance of creativity, innovation and teamwork in problem solving, and has proved to be particularly popular with girls.