Recipients 2025

28 recipients will share in almost $500,000 worth of funding in 2025 to help increase public participation in Queensland scientific research and STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) engagement events and activities under the Engaging Science Grants program.

• Ancient wisdom, future science: Bridging Indigenous knowledge with STEM

  Organisation: James Cook University

  Amount: $10,000

  This project aims to inspire Year 12 students from Djarragun College to explore careers in science through a series of interactive activities, workshops and cultural experiences at James Cook University, Cairns campus. Workshops will feature Indigenous scientists who will share personal experiences and discuss the significance of integrating traditional knowledge into modern science. Students will also participate in hands-on science lab tours, where they will witness the collection and analysis of Indigenous medicinal plants, enhancing their understanding of the scientific process while connecting with their cultural roots.

• Bribie Island Nature Festival

  Organisation: Bribie Island Nature Festival Inc

  Amount: $19,082

  The Bribie Island Nature Festival is a three-day event celebrating science, nature and the arts, with a strong emphasis on First Nations culture. The festival highlights the island’s biodiversity and rich heritage through over 30 activities, including guided walks, science talks, citizen science initiatives, and a CSIRO research facility tour. Creative elements like art workshops, concerts, and the Pumicestone Piano activity further engage the community. The mission is to inspire residents and visitors to connect with the island’s natural and cultural treasures through collaboration with scientists, artists and First Nations custodians.

• STEM empower program

  Organisation: Griffith University

  Amount: $19,200

  This project aims to engage under-represented local school groups with STEM academics, scientists and community groups through a series of activities held at Griffith University, Logan campus. Students will engage with equipment, resources and expertise not available at school by participating in events including hands-on STEM workshops, in class presentations and lab visits which will enable students to grow in a range of STEM skills and competencies.

• Girls Day Out in STEM 2025

  Organisation: Kingston East Neighbourhood Group Inc

  Amount: $19,870

  The 'Girls Day Out in STEM' one-day event at the Tudor Park Community Centre, Loganholme will help increase interest, participation and knowledge of young girls in STEM. Students will have the opportunity to participate in 20 hands-on, inquiry-based STEM activities which are all delivered by STEM industry experts showcasing their latest research and world-class innovations. The event aims to promote the importance of STEM and engage girls exploring STEM jobs.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Marine Science (ATSIMS) program commencement event

  Organisation: James Cook University

  Amount: $20,000

  Three rotating workshops at James Cook University's Townsville Campus will be held to equip students with foundational skills essential for engaging in three citizen science initiatives which they will apply during a field trip to Goolboddi (Orpheus Island) Research Station. Additionally, participants will participate in an informal panel with First Nations marine professionals to learn about careers in marine science.

• #STEMLIKEAPATSGIRL

  Organisation: St Patrick's College Townsville Limited

  Amount: $17,000

  This project aims to empower and engage North Queensland girls (aged 10 to 15) in STEM, through a free one-day conference, involving hands-on activities that encourage students to envision their futures in STEM fields. The event is designed to inspire the next generation of female leaders by offering a full day of interactive learning and empowerment. The day will include a STEM-themed keynote session, and two STEM related workshops facilitated by professionals working in various STEM disciplines, fostering real-world connections.

• VR STEM explorers

  Organisation: Colson Enterprises Pty Ltd

  Amount: $13,617

  A series of two-hour virtual reality STEM lessons for children aged 8-16 across various locations on the Gold Coast will be delivered. The students will gain critical thinking, problem-solving and digital literacy skills, while being exposed to cutting-edge technologies such as, robotics, coding and engineering. This project aims to spark the students' curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of how STEM principles apply to real-world challenges.

• Wild science of Yunbenun (Magnetic Island)

  Organisation: CANOE Projects Inc.

  Amount: $19,957

  Aiming to inspire people to become involved in citizen science, This project provides fun, educational experiences through a series of four seasonal citizen science events on Yunbenun (Magnetic Island). The island community and visitors will have the opportunity to participate in established citizen science programs, meet local scientists, collect data, and help increase the protection of some of the island's natural wonders, including wetlands, fringing reefs, fauna and flora.

• Activities to integrate the food and fibre industry into schools

  Organisation: Mackay Canegrowers Limited

  Amount: $19,600

  With a focus on enhancing pedagogical approaches, this project seeks to foster deeper school-to-industry partnerships, and will integrate real-world agricultural industry insights into senior STEM curriculum and professional development. This will be achieved through workshops, industry panels, hands-on case studies, and an industry mentorship program across six schools in Central and Far North Queensland area. The overall outcome for the project is to facilitate the uptake of STEM projects within schools while exposing students to the latest technologies and career opportunities.

• Outdoor Science Classroom Project

  Organisation: Parramatta State School

  Amount: $11,680

  An interactive and engaging outdoor learning environment at Parramatta State School will be created for the diverse and multicultural community of 400 students by providing opportunities for hands-on, nature-based learning, making science more engaging and accessible. The outdoor classroom is also aligned with the school's STEM Academy, which aims to inspire curiosity, creativity, and innovation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

• Songlines of Science: Connecting Culture, Country and Curriculum

  Organisation: Searchlight Education Springfield

  Amount: $18,422

  A series of hands-on workshops that integrate Indigenous knowledge with modern STEM education will be delivered., Targeting students from years 5 to 10 attending Hymba Yumba Independent School, each workshop will focus on different aspects of STEM - environmental science, sustainability, and astronomy - while weaving in cultural narratives from local Elders and knowledge holders. Practical activities, such as land management and star navigation, will be linked to the songlines, demonstrating how traditional knowledge systems are aligned with modern scientific concepts.

• Tidal treasures: Exploring and monitoring salt marsh biodiversity through citizen science

  Organisation: Pioneer Catchment & Landcare Group Inc

  Amount: $19,850

  Four bioblitz events will be held to  increase public awareness and engagement in Mackay’s salt marsh ecosystems. Community members, students, and educators participate in hands-on biodiversity monitoring, integrating First Nations ecological knowledge with scientific data collection, species identification, and analysis to create a holistic environmental education experience.

• Engaging the community about bats to produce a more scientific literate society to aid conservation

  Organisation: Bats and Trees Society of Cairns Inc

  Amount: $19,980

  This community engagement project raises awareness of bats and their conservation needs in Far North Queensland. It offers the community and visitors the chance to participate in bat-related citizen science projects and learn about local bat populations. The project aims to engage local and visiting students in long-term monitoring and data collection, including field samples, to assist scientists and community groups conserve our bat population.

• Marine ecoacoustics: Exploring ocean soundscapes

  Organisation: University of the Sunshine Coast

  Amount: $19,626

  This project aims to engage Queensland communities with marine science and Indigenous cultural knowledge to explore and document the diverse underwater soundscapes of the Sunshine Coast. This will be achieved through a series of ecoacoustic masterclasses, immersive ocean tours, and an interactive online platform with live-streaming hydrophones.

• Engaging materials science to support future aerospace and defence innovators

  Organisation: University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ)

  Amount: $20,000

  A series of workshops for high school students about on STEM careers within the aerospace and defence industry. The workshops will give participants real world experience and allow them to develop some of the critical thinking, technical literacy and problem-solving skills used by materials scientists and engineers in industry.

• What's brewing in the world of science on the Sunshine Coast?

  Organisation: Coolum District Coast Care Group Inc

  Amount: $9,628

  This project will host three events over a six-month period, to be held in local breweries, showcasing the latest evidence-based science research about coastal and marine topics on the Sunshine Coast. The aim is to provide a unique avenue to engage and connect the public and science community through an informal knowledge sharing event in a casual and fun atmosphere while presenting interesting and locally relevant talks on geoscience, marine biology, ecology, coastal ecology, current marine inshore and estuarine research, drones and their use in science, as well as the threats to the health of the Wallum Heath.

• Rural robotics outreach

  Organisation: Learnweaver Pty Ltd

  Amount: $20,000

  Targeting students from Cherbourg State School and Murgon State High School, this project aims to develop STEM and robotics skills so students can participate and compete in the First Lego League Challenge and in the First Tech Challenge. These STEM skills will be developed through regular workshops throughout the year and will include show and share days to engage the wider community.

• Exploring horizons: to infinity and beyond

  Organisation: CUC Balonne Ltd

  Amount: $20,000

  This one-day Youth Summit for high school students from the Balonne Shire and neighbouring shires will provide opportunities for students to meet with scientists and explore career pathways in science. The format of the one-day event will include a keynote speaker, a series of hands-on workshops and an interactive panel discussion.

• The science of seafood: STEM pathways through aquaculture

  Organisation: James Cook University

  Amount: $20,000

  High school students will be engaged in aquaculture through hands-on workshops in water chemistry, system design, microscopy and virtual farm tours. It blends academic and industry insight, giving students a well-rounded understanding of aquaculture’s role in sustainability and the importance of STEM literacy for future careers. These workshops also foster collaboration, enabling scientists to engage with the community and vice versa, while inspiring future aquaculture professionals, especially from regional and remote Queensland.

• Emerging Traditional Owner species survey

  Organisation: QIT Plus Pty Ltd

  Amount: $20,000

  This project aims to engage with Traditional Owners to enhance habitat and monitor the population of animal species in riparian corridors in the Mulgrave and Russell Rivers catchment, including pest species such as pigs, feral cats and wild dogs. Participants will be involved in the design, construction and installation of nesting boxes; monitoring of data through nesting box inspection cameras and field cameras; and the recording of data electronically. The data results and visual media will be shared with interested stakeholders.

• Bush, bowl and beyond: Connecting culture with kitchens through expanding our small school’s STEM programs

  Organisation: Mount Nebo State School P&C Association

  Amount: $20,000

  Mount Nebo State School students will engage with local elders in preparing and cooking with native ingredients grown on school grounds. A local land care group will help enhance the school's forest area and yarning circle through tree and plant restoration. This STEM program will deepen students' and the community's understanding of Indigenous knowledge, bushfoods and native plant species.

• Healthy rivers to reef STEM: Ripple effect

  Organisation: Reef Catchments (Mackay Whitsunday Isaac) Limited

  Amount: $20,000

  A series of one-day STEM innovation workshops will target approximately 500 students across schools in regional and rural Queensland. Through hands-on activities and interactive learning experiences, the workshops are designed to enhance students’ understanding of scientific concepts and methodologies, improve science literacy and encourage critical thinking as students analyse and solve local environmental problems.

• Beneath our feet

  Organisation: The Rainforest School

  Amount: $12,358

  This project at The Rainforest School, Mission Beach, links science with literacy by engaging students with a variety of scientists. Students will explore soils, rocks, minerals, gems, fossils and landscapes, learning how they evolve over time, while also examining how natural processes and human activities shape their surroundings. Through collaboration with First Nations people and local historians, students will gain insight into how humans have influenced the local area and how it, in turn, has shaped them.

• Lab Life: Inspiring future generations of First Nations researchers

  Organisation: The University of Queensland

  Amount: $16,000

  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people from across Queensland will  learn from leading scientists and gain and an understanding of different career pathways in STEM through online and in-personal science engagement activities. The sessions will provide exposure to research equipment and deep dives on key areas of research, including, finding cures in nature, growing medicine in plants and using venoms to develop new treatments.

• Youth Shark Tank Satellite Event: Riverpreneurs for a resilient future

  Organisation: International Riverfoundation

  Amount: $15,000

  This project aims to engage high school students in a "Shark Tank" style program to develop unique solutions for restoring a river of their choice in Queensland. Student ideas and pitches will be submitted by video and showcased and deliberated during a special online event. The three finalists will be given the opportunity to present their pitch to a panel of sharks and potential investors. This initiative aims to cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial skills among youth while enhancing their science communication and public presentation capabilities.

• Townsville STEM Faire 2025

  Organisation: Smart Precinct NQ

  Amount: $20,000

  A free one-day community event in Townsville will include a series of science shows, hands-on demonstrations and interactive activities such as drone flying, and science photography competitions. The community-focussed event will connect the Townsville community with the extensive range of STEM learning opportunities, study and career pathways, and organisations in the research, business and industry sectors of Townsville and surrounding regions.

• Tidal Wetlands Education Program

  Organisation: Cairns and Far North Environment Centre Inc

  Amount: $19,205

  This project aims to raise awareness of the rich biodiversity and importance of tidal wetland (i.e. mangroves and saltmarsh) ecosystems with school aged children in the Cairns community, through the continuation and expansion of place-based educational workshops and field trips. Students will learn about tidal wetlands from both a Western and Traditional perspective by engaging with Madjaybana rangers and a tidal wetlands expert.

• The Hydrogenius Youth Ambassadors Project

  Organisation: Central Queensland University

  Amount: $19,925

  Secondary students in the Gladstone region will become informed advocates for hydrogen technology and sustainability through this STEM projects Through hands-on learning, interactive workshops and practical experiences, students will develop STEM knowledge, leadership and public speaking skills through engaging the community. The project addresses STEM education gaps in regional areas, prepares students for future workforce opportunities, and raises public awareness of hydrogen’s role in Queensland’s energy transition.