Grants unlock scientific potential

The federal government is inviting those in the sciences to apply for grants to promote innovative projects.

The Inspiring Australia: Unlocking Australia’s Potential scheme will deliver a total of $5 million to scientific researchers in support of their work in the community.

The Minister for Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans said the competitive grants will allow successful applicants to run activities which encourage Australians to engage with science.

“This $5 million grants round will provide money to museums, universities, industry, local government, community and other organisations for activities that increase knowledge of science, and the benefits that science brings to everyday life in the community,” Mr Evans said.

The national strategy aims to promote interest in science.

The grants will also target Australians whose second language is English, with the hope of attracting proposals for innovative activities.

An Academy of Science spokesperson said: “The Academy believes it is very important to raise awareness in the community of the way that science is an integral part of our everyday life, and programs such as this help to do this.”

One of the strategy’s objectives is to identify skill shortages in science and encourage young Australians to pursue the subject in their studies and as a profession.

The need to increase student numbers in the sciences was revealed in a report by the Australian Academy of Science which found a decrease in students studying science in years 11 and 12.

The lead author of the study from the Academy of Science, Professor Denis Goodrum, said: “The overall drop in science study as a whole is quite staggering.”

“For a country that believes its future prosperity depends on innovation and a skilled workforce, this situation needs to be addressed,” he said.

Inspiring Australia will encourage the building of relationships between the Australian public and the sciences and between researchers and their communities.

A total of $5 million is available across three levels of grant categories – small, medium and large – for projects to be delivered in 2012 and/or 2013-14.

Applications for the grants will close on February 29, and all communities and organisations are welcome to apply.