The November issue of Electronics News has a story about the Australian
Government announcing $40 million dollars in grants that are being made
available for "space-related research, education and innovation activities"
as part of the Australian Space Research Program.
The Department of Innovations, Industry, Science and Research has a definition
of what is meant by "space-related" here -
http://www.innovation.gov.au/Industr...efinition.aspx
The grants include what are called "Stream A - Space Education Development Grants"
which "supports student projects and education activities, including international
education opportunities and the establishment of national space education programs
and centres of expertise for space education."
The scope of the grants includes encouraging secondary students as well as
researchers from university and industry to become involved in space-related
activities. For example, the Minister responsible, Senator Carr cited as an
example "mini-satellite payloads that can observe earth". He went on to say,
"There are many examples of young people carrying out exciting and useful
space research projects on relatively low budgets and we want to encourage and build
on that inventiveness".
More details can be found here, including Grant application forms -
http://www.innovation.gov.au/Industr...chProgram.aspx
Round 1 applications must be submitted by email by 3pm AEST Fri 4th Dec 2009.
It would be great to hear of IceInSpace members who are at the secondary
or tertiary levels getting involved, so if you are interested, please be sure to
point your science instructors to the Australian Space Research Program web
site as grants ranging between $200,000 to $1 million for projects up to three
years in duration are available.
Did someone say "Mini space-borne telescope"?
Get those thinking
caps on!
