Smithsonian opportunity for Queensland researchers

Published Wednesday, 28 October, 2015 at 04:23 PM

Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Science and Innovation
The Honourable Leeanne Enoch

Queensland researchers have the chance to work at one of the world’s leading scientific and educational institutions by applying for 2015-2016 Smithsonian and Cooper Hewitt Fellowships.

Minister for Science and Innovation Ms Leeanne Enoch said the Smithsonian and Cooper Hewitt Fellowships were funded by the Queensland Government in partnership with the prestigious Smithsonian Institution in the United States on science, innovation and design-led education collaboration.

“The Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowship program is open for applications and will see three to five lucky Queensland researchers receive fellowships of up to $25,000 to spend 8 to 16 weeks working at one of the Smithsonian’s museums or research centres on a research project,” Ms Enoch said.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime to be part of a program that facilitates the exchange of knowledge and skills between Queensland and the United States with Queensland researchers and educators returning with a wealth of invaluable knowledge and experience they can share.

“This is an investment in Queensland’s future and aligns with the Government’s Advance Queensland Initiative to create an innovative culture in Queensland as the lynchpin of a knowledge-based economy, offering up good, high-paying jobs for young Queenslanders.”

Education Minister Kate Jones said the Queensland-Cooper Hewitt Fellowship supported a Queensland teacher to complete a learning project in design-led education at New York’s famous Cooper Hewitt Design Museum.  Funding of up to $20,000 will be available for projects ranging from 8 to 12 weeks.

“The Cooper Hewitt museum hosts a world-class design library, encompassing graphic, web interface, industrial fashion, information, interior and sustainable design,” Ms Jones said.

“The successful recipient of the fellowship shares the experience and knowledge they gain of design-led learning with their students and colleagues back in Queensland.

“The benefits for Queensland students of having their teacher spend time in one of the design capitals of the world – New York – you just can’t put a value on. All the resources created by these fellows live on and are available for all Queensland educators via the State Library of Queensland’s Design Minds website - http://designminds.org.au/queensland-smithsonian-cooper-hewitt-design-museum-fellowship/.”

The Government signed a new three-year $360,000 agreement with the Smithsonian Institution earlier this year to continue the fellowship programs to 2018. The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum and research complex, with 19 museums including the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and nine research centres.

For further information go to https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industry/science/grants/smithsonian-fellowships; the Cooper Hewitt Fellowship program https://www.qld.gov.au/education/career/pages/cooper-hewitt-fellowship.html

 

Media contact: Kim Lyell 0437 859987