Engaging Science Grants

To help increase the reach of science in Queensland we are supporting scientists, researchers, science communicators, journalists, teachers, organisations and community groups to develop and deliver science engagement and communication projects, events and activities.

You can apply for funding of up to $10,000 if your project relates to at least one of goals in our Engaging Queenslanders in Science strategy.

To help you get started here is a list of ideas:

  • a school community event/activity/research project involving students, teachers and parents
  • a citizen science project, e.g. a scientist or researcher engages and collaborates with the local community to gather data for a scientific project (we also have Queensland Citizen Science Grants that you may be eligible to apply for).
  • an open house, e.g. invite the local community to a conducted tour of your scientific premises
  • a media or social media campaign, e.g. animation/video production and distribution via social media channels
  • an event, seminar or workshop e.g. science communication training for researchers or an activity connecting scientists with community groups to promote Queensland scientists and science programs.

You can read more about the grants and the eligibility criteria at the Advance Queensland website.

Funding recipients

One hundred and forty-nine recipients have so far shared in more than $1.4 million to build the profile of science in Queensland.

Video: Science is amazing - Our Engaging Science Grants recipients

Find out from recipients about the importance of STEM and why it's amazing.

Video transcript

Science: it's amazing.

It holds the potential for shaping our future.

Science is all around us.

You can feel the excitement.

See the learning.

Smell the fun, and sometimes even taste it.

Queensland is a growing destination for science discovery and innovation.

That's why the Queensland Government is supporting scientists, researchers, teachers, and industry groups to delivers events, projects, and activities all over Queensland where people of all ages can have fun and learn about the world around us.

[Interview Rachael Nasplezes] I think science is so engaging.

It gives young people an opportunity to get out in the world and investigate how the world works.

[Interview Professor Kathy Andrews] By engaging with young children they'll develop a real love of science they'll take with them as they develop through their schooling years and beyond.

[Interview with Robert Read] Careers in science, technology, engineering, maths, that's where people are going to be able to show their creativity and that's where there's going to be a lot of exciting opportunities in the future. We're future-proofing the students for the life they're going to go into.

In the future, when they leave school, they leave university, they're going to be doing a range of jobs that don't exist yet.

[Interview with Jim Payne] It's great that, as scientists, we are getting out of the lab and we're engaging with the community.

We're no longer gatekeepers of the knowledge. We're out there trying to communicate the science of the everyday to people.

[Interview with Emily de la Pena] When the general public pick up these sorts of skills it allows them to understand how things are built. It allows them to be creators and not just consumers of technology.

[Interview with Rachael Nasplezes] I think getting people excited about science and how science can help us provide solutions is a really important opportunity.

[Interview with Associate Professor Bruno van Swinderen] In terms of producing excellent science, world-class science, Queensland is equal if not better than the other Australian states at this point.

Under the Advance Queensland Engaging Science Grants program, scientists and the community are coming together to research, learn from each other, and celebrate science in Queensland.

Queenslanders are getting involved in all sorts of things. Science fairs, farming workshops, and marine protection.

They're learning about the latest technologies in drones, virtual reality, robotics, and discovering all the possibilities of careers in science, technology, engineering, and maths.

With science, we have power. Power of understanding. Power for smarter business practices.

Power to protect our environment. Power for our lives to always be changing for the better.

It's science, and it's amazing.

Engaging Queenslanders in Science Strategy

We have developed the Engaging Queenslanders in Science Strategy to inspire Queenslanders to know more about, and get involved in science.

We want to create a Queensland population that engages in, and recognises, supports and advocates for science.

Our strategy focuses on four priority objectives:

  • STEM participation—to increase the number of students participating in school STEM subjects
  • public engagement—to increase engagement and participation of the Queensland community in science-based activities
  • scientist engagement—to increase the number of scientists directly engaging with the Queensland community, e.g. general public, media and schools
  • public awareness—to increase awareness and understanding of the great science taking place in Queensland.

On this website you can read about ways the Queensland Government is helping to showcase science, encourage increased student participation in STEM subjects, as well as how you can get involved in science activities outlined in the strategy.

Research to develop the strategy

To inform the strategy, we undertook research to understand Queenslanders’ perceptions and attitudes towards science.

We discovered that:

  • almost 75% of Queenslanders showed an interest in science
  • the majority of Queenslanders (76%) perceive science as having a positive impact on our society while almost three quarters (72%) also see science as being critical to the Queensland economy
  • most Queensland parents (79%) encourage their children to study science at school while 59% encourage or would encourage their children to study science as a career
  • only 20% of Queenslanders were able to accurately recall a Queensland scientist and/or scientist discovery
  • almost half (47%) believe there is not enough information about science in the media or online and the same amount believe that there are not enough science-based events and activities.

The research involved a 10-minute online survey of 1200 residents aged 18 years and over, spread across Queensland.

You can read: