National Science Week Engagement Activities Grants (Australia)

National Science Week is Australia’s major national celebration of the sciences, occurring in August each year. National Science Week will be held from 9 to 17 August 2025. National Science Week provides the opportunity for community participation in high profile science engagement activities across the nation.

Objectives 

• The objectives of the grant opportunity are to:
  • inspire wide community participation in STEM
  • provide an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of Australian scientists to the world of knowledge
  • encourage an interest in science pursuits among the general public
  • encourage younger people to become fascinated by the world
  • encourage new and innovative ways of engaging with audiences.

What do you get?

• Grants of between $2,000 and $20,000 for community participation in National Science Week 2025 activities.
• Your project must be focussed on conducting eligible activities that take place during National Science Week 2025, or where appropriate, in the week before or after National Science Week 2025. Your activity must commence no earlier than 2 August 2025 and be completed no later than 24 August 2025.

Eligible Projects

• You must complete your project by 15 September 2025.
• To be eligible your project must:
  • be directed towards a science-related activity that will be conducted in Australia during National Science Week 2025, or where appropriate, in the week before or after National Science Week 2025
  • be available to the general public and engage the wider community
  • address one or more of the following purposes:
    • draw the nation’s attention towards the sciences
    • spark broad interest and engagement in the sciences
    • provide an opportunity for all Australians, including those historically under-represented in the sciences, to participate in science events and activities
    • foster partnerships between the community, research organisations and industry
    • trial new and innovative science communication activities
  • be delivered in at least one of the following formats:
    • an in-person event involving physical attendance
    • an online event involving two-way audience participation or involvement

Intended Outcomes

• The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are to:
  • increase national and international interest in Australian science
  • improve critical engagement with key scientific issues by the public
  • increase inspiration drawn from science and improve the value of science as perceived by the public.

Eligibility Criteria

• You can apply if you:
  • are an individual 18 years of age or older, or
  • have an Australian business number (ABN).
• You can’t apply if you are:
  • an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme
  • an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
  • a non-corporate Commonwealth entity (unless you are a publicly funded research organisation, as defined in section 14 of the grant opportunity guidelines)
  • a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust).

For more information, visit Australian Government.