Seeking ‘out of the box’ ideas for National Science Week
16 Oct 2015
Media release A national search for fresh ideas to get people involved in science is coming to a close, with just one week remaining for individuals and groups to apply for 2016 National Science Week grants.
Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said Australia’s annual celebration of science was seeking ‘out of the box’ ideas to surprise and delight audiences of all ages, in communities around the nation.
“National Science Week is Australia’s largest festival and a wonderful way for everyone to get involved with science and technology,” Mr Pyne said.
“This August we saw around 1.3 million people participate in over 1700 events nationwide – from Tom Price in Western Australia to Cairns in Far North Queensland.
“We’d like to see even greater participation in 2016, so we’re calling on artists, libraries, research institutes, museums, community groups and anyone who has an innovative idea for a science-based event or activity to apply for a National Science Week grant.”
The annual grant round offers funding between $2,000 and $25,000 for individual projects targeting the general public, from a total available pool of $500,000. National Science Week 2016 will run between 13‑21 August.
Mr Pyne said the grant round was highly competitive, so ideas that stood out from the crowd were crucial.
“We want to spread the positive message as widely as possible about the impact that science has on our lives, our economy, our society and our world,” Mr Pyne said.
“Projects funded in 2015 included the Northern Rivers Arts vs Science Festival in Lismore, where 800 participants enjoyed music and poetry performances, hands-on science activities and planting trees in a riverside park.
“In Alice Springs, over 2,000 people visited the DesertSmart EcoFair to explore the science and research being done in the desert and to learn about living sustainably in central Australia.”
Applications for the National Science Week grant round close on Friday 23 October, and successful recipients will be announced in early‑2016.
Further information on the 2016 National Science Week grants is at http://industry.gov.au/science/InspiringAustralia/NationalScienceWeekGrants