Each year, Inspiring Australia (NSW) offers funding to NSW stakeholders to deliver high-profile community events during National Science Week and at other times of the year. These NSW Science Engagement grants are typically offered March/April and October/November and have enabled NSW to grow its statewide National Science Week offering while also allowing NSW Regional Science Hubs to deliver entertaining programing throughout the year.
The NSW Science Grants program is funded by Investment NSW within the NSW Department of Premier & Cabinet and the
Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. This program underpins a network of NSW Regional Science Hubs – local partnerships that bring together multidisciplinary teams to develop and deliver high-profile STEM engagement programs in NSW.
2022 National Science Week Grants
Expressions of interest are invited from NSW-based event providers to deliver innovative live, online and hybrid events and activities that can be delivered as part of National Science Week from 13 – 21 August 2022.
The purpose of this funding is to connect community members with science and technology, including in regional communities, and to enable community presenters to develop interactive science events and activities for the general public.
This funding is not intended to support projects targeting school students.
Where possible, we encourage applicants to collaborate with NSW Regional Science Hubs as well as other local event providers that have well established audiences e.g. libraries and regional museums.
We are especially interested in receiving proposals that show evidence of community building and collaboration to boost engagement with STEM and welcome innovative ideas for engaging community members that may not ordinarily engage with science and technology.
Eligibility
Expressions of interest for funding of up to $5,000 are invited to support initiatives that bring together local individuals and organisations to produce welcoming events and to create compelling online content that can be presented as part of National Science Week in August 2022.
Initiatives that are collaborative, involve multiple partners and attract other sources of funding towards proposed activity will be highly regarded.
Please note that applicants that receive funding from the national grants program administered by AusIndustry are NOT ELIGIBLE to apply for these state-based funds.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 5:00PM Tuesday 15 March 2022
Major 2022 National Science Week event funding
Each year, the NSW Executive Committee for National Science Week and Inspiring Australia seeks expressions of interest from suitably qualified NSW-based event providers to deliver a major event series as part of National Science Week from 13 – 21 August 2022.
$25,000 is available to enable an experienced provider to produce a high profile campaign that includes interactive, live and virtual science events and activities that showcase the achievements of NSW scientists.
The proposed event series should target the general public. While this funding is not intended to support projects specifically targeting school students, a schools’ component is acceptable alongside substantial general public activity.
We encourage applicants to collaborate with other National Science Week event providers in order to present a unified National Science Week campaign approach. We are especially interested in receiving proposals that show evidence of community building and collaboration to boost engagement with STEM and welcome innovative ideas for engaging community members that may not ordinarily engage with science and technology.
Please note that only one grant will be allocated from this funding pool and that applicants that receive funding from the national grants program administered by AusIndustry are NOT ELIGIBLE to apply for these state-based funds.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 5:00PM Tuesday 15 March 2022
Inspiring Australia NSW will open Expressions of Interest for applications for 2022 National Science Week grants of up to $5,000 in early March 2022. There will also be an opportunity for a significant event presenter to apply for one allocation of $25,000 to deliver a large scale event series in NSW.
Sponsorship for NSW 2022 engagement projects
These guidelines have been developed to guide assessment of ad hoc funding requests. Depending on available funding, Inspiring Australia NSW will consider Expressions of Interest for sponsorship of science engagement projects with up to $10,000 from established presenters that have a proven track record in catering to general public audiences.
Anyone seeking sponsorship should first contact the Inspiring Australia NSW Manager to discuss their proposal.
Any sponsorship proposal must seek funding for a general public community event that includes science themes and science or technology researchers. Events that have potential to attract people who may not ordinarily participate in nor have access to science outreach programs will be highly regarded.
In order to qualify, applicants must demonstrate:
- Proven experience in attracting the target audience
- Capacity to deliver professionally managed events
- Capacity to manage and acquit funds
- A plan for responding to Covid-19 restrictions if necessary
- A plan for how NSW scientists will be incorporated into event programming
- A realistic estimate of the intended reach of the activity to be sponsored
- A plan for evaluating the impact of the activity to be sponsored.
2022 Year-Round Science Grants
The 2022 Year-Round Science Grants program aims to further develop the network of NSW Regional Science Hubs, enduring local partnerships that bring together multidisciplinary teams to develop and deliver high-profile science events in regional NSW. Regional organisations operating as Science Hubs can apply for funds of up to $8,000 to facilitate the delivery of year-round public engagement programs. This funding round is now closed.
Read about the 2022 Inspiring Australia NSW grant recipients.
Inspiring Australia Science Engagement Program
Funded by the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, the Inspiring Australia Science Engagement Program supports a range of national science engagement activities to inspire, motivate and cultivate a scientifically engaged community across Australia.
It includes:
- National Science Week Grants that support the delivery of science engagement activities during National Science Week each year in August. The 2020 round is now closed.
- Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, annual awards for outstanding achievement in science, innovation and science teaching.
- Maker Projects that aim to foster creativity and inquiry-based learning in Australian schools and communities through two streams:
Maker Projects Stream A assists with the establishment of maker spaces in schools.
Maker Projects Stream B helps organisations hold STEM-related events and education activities in partnership with industry and aimed at under 18 year olds. - Citizen Science Grants for nationally significant citizen science projects.
- Sponsorship Grants for Student Science Engagement and International Competitions to help students participate in international competitions.
For more information, check the Inspiring Australia national grant information at the Department’s website and read the Program Guidelines.