SCIENCE PROJECTS RECEIVE FUNDING FOR LOCAL ACTIVITIES

5 community projects on the Sunshine Coast are to receive $82,677 in the most recent round of the Queensland Government’s Engaging Science Grants, Member for Nicklin, Robert Skelton MP, said today.

“They are included in 40 community projects, from insect and koala research to waste management and space education, that are to be funded a total of $660,320 under the grants program,” Mr Skelton said.

“One of the main purposes of the grants is to inspire our Queensland students to study STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in school that lead to productive and satisfying STEM careers.

“The grants are also focussed on engaging the wider community and increasing awareness of the innovative science happening right here in Queensland.”

Successful applicants can receive up to $20,000 through the grants, which have been awarded to schools, universities, citizen science groups and other organisations.

“The common denominator is that successful applicants are passionate about connecting students and other Queenslanders with science and scientists,” Mr Skelton said.

On the Sunshine Coast the following organisations have been awarded Engaging Science Grants:
• Baringa State Primary School, which received $18,000 for its project “Turtley awesome” where, working with The Sunshine Coast Council Coastal Discovery Van and volunteers from Turtle Care and University of Sunshine Coast, students will investigate the key stages in the life cycle of a sea turtle and the threats that face them.
• Burnside State High School, which received $9,000 for its project “Creative engineering autonomous vehicle” where students will undertake a STEM project to design and build an autonomous vehicle.
• Mooloolah River Waterwatch and Landcare, which received $16,900 for its project “Bugs to the rescue…. and rescuing bugs!” to increase public awareness and action to facilitate science-based solutions to the threats to the fragile riparian areas of the Mooloolah River.
• University of the Sunshine Coast, which received $18,786 for its project “Coast4D monitoring program” that aims to use photos collected with a smartphone to frequently and cost-effectively monitor changes in dune vegetation and beach volume.
• University of the Sunshine Coast, which received $19,991 for its project “Bite me! Insect predation and (micro)habitat in playgrounds” involving 10 rural schools focused on insects to monitor environmental change.

Mr Skelton said the Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist had allocated more than $2 million in Engaging Science Grants to 189 grant recipients since 2016 with more than half of these supported projects located in regional areas.

“The Queensland Government has also allocated almost $1.2 million to 43 Queensland Citizen Science Grant recipients across the state longer-term citizen science projects since 2019,” Robert Skelton said.

Further information on the Engaging Science Grants program, including the successful recipients from this round, is available at https://www.chiefscientist.qld.gov.au/science-comms/engaging-science-grants.