“Jeff is basically the beating heart of our program. He’s always the carrot, never the stick. Others wish they could be so nonchalantly awesome, but it’s hard to compete with the best.”
— Dr Leslie Almberg, EES Co-Program Director

Jeff Gnathostomes, the placoderm plushie, was gifted to the Earth and Environmental Science (EES) Olympiad program by Marion Anderson from Monash University in 2017. The students on that year’s team were immediately enthralled. They adopted him on the spot and unanimously voted to name him after their mentor, Jeff, a member of the 2016 Olympiad team who famously gave a summer school talk explaining why he is, in fact, a fish.

Leslie says, “Jeff’s last name is an invention by Greg McNamara that requires a bit of paleontological/linguistic wizardry to explain!

Since then, Jeff has become a central figure within the EES Olympiad program. He has travelled internationally with teams and even earned the unofficial title of “most popular mascot” at the Olympiad in Nice, France, narrowly edging out Tshsui the trilobite, the French team’s homegrown favourite.

Jeff’s influence extends far beyond a single competition. His adventures are documented on the Instagram account @happyplacoderm, which captures the many places he has travelled and the people he has met along the way. He has appeared in photos with Nobel Laureate Professor Brian Schmidt and attended events in the official audience of HRH the Crown Princess of Thailand. Along the way, he has met students, scientists, and dignitaries from Korea, Thailand, Australia, and China.

Jeff is more than a mascot. He represents one of the earliest success stories in vertebrate life: the placoderms, armoured pioneers of the Devonian seas. These ancient fish were among the first jawed vertebrates and, for much of the Devonian Period, occupied the role of apex predators. With their protective armour and powerful jaws, they were formidable and filled ecological roles that sharks would later take on after their extinction around 350 million years ago.

By transforming a placoderm into a plush toy, something ancient and abstract becomes tangible and shared. Rather than remaining confined to textbooks or fossil displays, this early vertebrate is brought into everyday student life.

Just as placoderms once explored new ecological possibilities, the Earth and Environmental Science Olympiad community is driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to understand a changing planet.

This sense of connection extends through Jeff’s travels. He has visited the United States, France, Thailand, Korea, China (twice), New Zealand, and locations across Australia, becoming a familiar presence in both academic and cultural settings. With upcoming trips to Italy and Japan already on his itinerary, Jeff continues to expand his reach by bringing a small piece of the program’s identity wherever he goes.

 

Jeff reminds students that they are part of a long continuum of change, adaptation, and resilience, and that, together, they are exploring Earth’s story.

He represents more than an extinct species. He embodies the idea that scientific inquiry is an ongoing journey that links ancient oceans to modern classrooms. Through this small, tangible figure, students are reminded that they are participants in something much larger: a shared pursuit defined by curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to understanding the Earth.

The EES Olympiad program itself reflects these same values. Students engage with complex topics including climate systems, biogeochemical cycles, geological processes, and the environmental challenges shaping the modern world. They are not only learning content but also developing new ways of thinking that are analytical, systems-based, and grounded in an understanding of Earth as a dynamic, interconnected system.

The EES Olympiad program fosters an environment of community and inclusion while allowing students to explore the world and grow along the way.

Hazel Chan is the kind of student who gets it. She knows firsthand just how adored Jeff is in the EES community, and she fully embraces the inspiration he brings.

A proud student of The Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School, Hazel has a big love for geology and an equally big creative streak. “She sews, she crochets, she draws, and honestly, at this point we’re not sure what she can’t do.”

Her enthusiasm for Jeff is legendary, earning her the unofficial (but passionately defended) title of “Jeff Cult Leader.”

In true Hazel fashion, she channelled her creativity into a promotional poster of Jeff to help spread the word about the EES Olympiad program at her school to make sure everyone else understands just how iconic Jeff truly is.

“Many of our students have been inspired to create fan art representations of Jeff over the years. He has been rendered in ink, paints, on clothing, pencil, clay, sculpture, poetry, a knitted tie (also from Hazel), and myriad digital remixes. In short, he’s very inspirational!” Leslie told us.

Hazel featured in front, as close to Jeff as possible.

For new participants, Jeff offers an easy and welcoming entry point. He softens the intensity of advanced scientific study and signals that the program is not only about academic excellence but also about belonging. Jeff creates moments of connection between students, across cohorts, and throughout the global Olympiad community.

Part of Jeff’s charm lies in the small traditions that have grown around him. He is known for his unusual favourite food, anchovy ice cream, which has become something of an inside joke within the program and even makes regular appearances in entrance exam questions. These quirky details give students something to laugh about and bond over from the very beginning… growing ever fonder for those selected high-achieving students invited to ASO Summer School who get to meet him in person.

In this way, the placoderm’s story continues to evolve. No longer just an ancient fish, Jeff now carries the collective experiences of the students who engage with him. Each photo, each event, and each shared moment adds another layer to his meaning, transforming him from a mascot into a symbol of community, curiosity, and connection.

From Devonian seas to modern classrooms, Jeff’s journey is still unfolding.

Thank you to Hazel, Leslie, Wayne, David and all the Earth & Environmental Science Olympiad team for sharing Jeff’s story with us. May your infamous mascot and most valuable member of your team continue to dig deep and give his all to your team, and the Australian Science Olympiads Program.