Overview

Applications for the Engaging Science Grants are now open. Applications will close at 4pm on 22 September 2025.

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The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation is offering competitive Engaging Science Grants designed to support teachers, scientists, organisations, citizen science groups and community groups to deliver STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) events or educational and engagement activities or projects. STEM is inclusive of the social sciences.

Targeted theme - Nature-based tourism

This round will prioritise projects that integrate science participation or STEM education into nature-based tourism, supporting Queensland's goal to be Australia's leading ecotourism and nature-based tourism destination as outlined in the Destination 2045 -delivering Queensland’s tourism future.

Projects should seek to provide meaningful scientific interactions with nature, preserve biodiversity, understand visitor behaviour, or explore cultural ecological knowledge through engagement with First Nations peoples.

Grants of up to $25,000 each (excluding GST) are available to support recipients deliver events, activities or projects for up to 12 months. The number of grants awarded will depend on the number and quality of applications received.

Objective

The Engaging Science Grants are offered to increase participation in science-based activities and engagement between scientists and the whole community. Projects that aim to inspire students in STEM, promote STEM career pathways, increase public awareness of Queensland's science ecosystem, and cultivate critical thinking and science literacy are strongly encouraged to apply.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a grant, applicants must:

have a Queensland-based address, such as an office, chapter or campus
possess an Australian Business Number (ABN)
maintain public liability insurance of at least $20 million (in total and per event)
disclose any other grant funding received for the project in the application’s budget section
if working with children or people with a disability, applicants must maintain all relevant industry requirements throughout the project’s duration
Note: Queensland Government departments are ineligible to apply. However, Queensland Government employees may apply in a personal capacity if they are volunteering for community groups or are teachers.

The types of activities eligible for funding include, but are not limited to:

staff costs – direct salary costs for employees delivering the engagement activity
specialist skills – fees for external guest speakers and specialist contractors engaged to deliver all or part of the activity
production – materials, consumables, hire fees, venue catering, permit fees
project planning (maximum 20% of requested funds)
purchase of equipment (e.g. iPads or drones) or development of software/technology solutions e.g. teaching software (maximum of 50% of requested funds)
marketing, media and promotions – printing of marketing materials, website development and advertisement or social media campaigns
travel directly relating to the project
sample and data collection.

The following items are ineligible for funding under this program:

organisational overheads of the applicant organisation including insurance
activities that generate a profit
purchase of alcohol
gift vouchers other than for books.

Recipients

The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation has allocated more than $3.6 million in Engaging Science Grants to 286 grant recipients since 2016 with more than half of these events and activities located in regional areas.

Across the state, hundreds of people are becoming citizen scientists to gather data for scientific projects with almost $1.2 million also allocated to 43 Queensland Citizen Science Grant recipients for longer-term projects since 2019.

Since 2022, rounds combined both grant programs under the Engaging Science Grants banner.

Successful recipients:

Useful links

Further information

Email: grantsadministration@detsi.qld.gov.au
Phone: (07) 3330 6360

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