Science grants to boost involvement in STEM activities

• Grants of up to $20,000 are now available to community groups, education professionals, scientists and citizen science groups as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s Engaging Science Grants program
• The program funds projects that inspire more Queensland students to study STEM subjects, promote STEM career opportunities, and supports vital citizen science projects
• The 2024 funding round will include targeted funding for projects that encourage visitors and tourists to our protected areas to contribute to research projects that will protect our threatened species

Community groups, education professionals, scientists and citizen science groups can now apply for a share of $500,000 in funding under the Palaszczuk Government’s Engaging Science Grants program.

Grants of up to $20,000 are available for projects, events and activities that inspire more Queensland students to study STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects and promote STEM career opportunities.

The grants program also provides funding for citizen science projects that encourage community members to volunteer their time to collect and analyse data that contributes to important Queensland research.

The 2024 grants round also includes targeted funding for projects that encourage tourists and visitors to contribute information and data to research projects that aim to improve the conservation and recovery of threatened species across our national parks and other protected areas.

Projects may include engaging visitors to map or monitor flora and fauna species, testing water quality, modelling of erosion, soil sampling, observing changes to the environment, or undertaking behavioural research of visitors.

Quotes attributable to Science Minister, Leanne Linard:

“Increasing student and community participation in STEM-based activities is vital to ensuring our younger generation is well equipped for the jobs of the future and improves scientific literacy and critical thinking on global issues.

“In addition, this year’s funding round offers an exciting opportunity to get some of the millions of visitors and tourists who visit our amazing national parks every year actively involved in capturing critical data to monitor and support conservation and management of our protected estates.

“Tourists can play a key role in helping us to monitor and protect the environment by collecting data that a scientist working on a research project would not be able to collect on their own.

“Scientific innovation and discovery are key components of ensuring we have a sustainable and thriving society in the future, and that’s why the Palaszczuk Government is committed to investing in STEM projects.”

Quotes attributable to Friends of Parks Queensland executive officer, Jessica Lovegrove-Walsh:

“Thanks to funding received under the 2023 funding round of the Engaging Science Grants, Friends of Parks Queensland is organising field days where experts will lead guided surveys focused on threatened species in protected areas of the state.

“We want to increase the capacity of the community to undertake threatened species research and assist scientists to identify, record and report both common and threatened species sightings.

“It’s a great opportunity for people to connect with scientists in the conservation field, and help protect our environment.”

Further information:

Since 2016, the Engaging Science Grants program has provided more than $2.7 million in funding to 230 recipients.

Applications for the 2024 funding round will be open until 4pm Wednesday, 8 November.

More information can be found at: https://www.chiefscientist.qld.gov.au/science-comms/engaging-science-grants

ENDS

Media contact: Scott Chandler – (07) 3719 7339