Deadline: 21 August 2018
Applications are open for Unlocking Curious Minds which is a contestable fund that supports innovative approaches which provide more New Zealanders with more opportunities to learn about and engage with science and technology.
Unlocking Curious Minds supports projects that use innovative and/or best-practice approaches to help potential and future citizen scientists, particularly young New Zealanders aged 18 years and under, learn about and to engage with science and technology, by:
- supporting education and community outreach initiatives that focus on science and technology
- broadening participants’ ability to engage with science and technology
- promoting the relevance of science and technology in their lives
- encouraging engagement in societal debate about science and technology issues facing the country.
Funding Information
- Local grants: Local/community projects run by either individuals or organisations can apply for up to $30,000. Applicants do not have to apply for the full amount available. An individual, or organisation which is a legal entity with an IRD number, can apply for a local grant.
- Regional/national grants: Up to $150,000 can be requested by organisations only for projects that have broader reach within and across regions or New Zealand as a whole. Applicants do not have to apply for the full amount available.
Eligibility Criteria
- The funding can be used to support the costs of delivering innovative new science and technology engagement projects aimed at groups who do not have:
- a background of engagement with science and technology, and/or
- an understanding of how science and technology can affect them and change the way they live their lives.
- Proposals are encouraged for projects that will increase the engagement of young people (aged 18 years and under) with science and technology.
- Projects should lift levels of understanding and involvement with science and technology in ‘harder-to-reach’ target groups. Such activities could include, e.g. workshops, community-based research, or hands-on learning opportunities. Where possible, activities should offer multiple engagement opportunities, rather than one-off events.
- Local grants
- For local grants the applicant can be an individual (New Zealand citizen or permanent resident) or an organisation* that is a legal entity with an IRD number.
- Regional/national grants
- Only an organisation that is a legal entity with an IRD number can apply for regional/national grants. Individuals cannot apply for regional/national grants.
- Applicants for regional/national grants must provide a minimum of 20% of the total project costs as cash cofunding and/or in-kind support, with MBIE funding the balance.
- Regional/national projects must either involve collaboration with other organisations or leverage existing engagement programmes or resources (government or non-government). This could include, for example, partnerships with organisations that have a strong connection with the target group, expertise in science content and/or communication, event management etc.
- Government departments (as defined in Schedule 1 of the State Sector Act 1988), centres of research excellence (funded through the Tertiary Education Commission), and National Science Challenge research collaborations are not eligible to apply for or receive funding. However, these can be involved in delivering or supporting a project.
How to Apply
Applicants can apply online via given website.
Eligible Country: New Zealand
For more information, please visit Unlocking Curious Minds.