Successful 2024 Unlocking Curious Minds contestable fund investment round proposals
Through the 2024 funding round, the Unlocking Curious Minds contestable fund is supporting 14 projects aimed at engaging more New Zealanders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
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The 2024 investment round of the Unlocking Curious Minds contestable fund awarded $1.611 million to the following projects, which will start on 1 February 2024.
Project title |
Organisation |
Funding (Excl GST) |
Region |
Drive it down! Measuring and mitigating school-gate transport emissions. | Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences Limited - Trading as GNS Science | $117,900.00 | Auckland - Tāmaki Makaurau, Wellington - Te Whanganui-a-Tara |
Enabling science education in the Rangitīkei using combined Mātauranga and Western approaches | University of Auckland | $150,000.00 | Manawatu-Whanganui |
Ka tangi te rakau: Connecting with plants using biosonification and rongo ā wairua | Massey University | $101,147.00 | Northland - Te Tai Tokerau |
Mātaki Marangai: school pupils monitoring geographical patterns of rainfall around Tairāwhiti | Bodeker Scientific Limited | $91,520.00 | Gisborne - Tairāwhiti |
Monitoring Mangō: engaging our scientists of the future with sharks | University of Otago | $150,000.00 | Waikato, Taranaki, Gisborne - Tairāwhiti, Wellington - Te Whanganui-a-Tara, West Coast - Te Tai Poutini, Otago - Ōtākou, Southland - Murihiku |
Tūhura Tuarangi - Completing the Mission | Otago Museum Trust Board | $150,000.00 | Taranaki, Gisborne - Tairāwhiti, Hawkes Bay - Te Matau-a-Māui, Tasman - Te Tai-o-Aorere, Nelson - Whakatū, West Coast - Te Tai Poutini, Canterbury - Waitaha, Chatham Islands - Rēkohu / Wharekauri, Southland - Murihiku |
Magnifying curiosity by investigating the very small | University of Waikato | $54,596.00 | Waikato, Bay of Plenty - Te Moana-a-Toi-te-Huatahi |
Taiao by Taiao: Measuring, Monitoring and Responding to Our Natural World Using Science | PAPA TAIAO - EARTHCARE LIMITED | $130,000.00 | Northland - Te Tai Tokerau |
Empowering Tomorrow's Innovators: High School Science Integrating Mātauranga Māori and Chemical Engineering | University of Canterbury | $149,993.21 | Northland - Te Tai Tokerau, Auckland - Tāmaki Makaurau, Waikato,Bay of Plenty - Te Moana-a-Toi-te-Huatahi, Manawatu-Whanganui, Wellington - Te Whanganui-a-Tara, West Coast - Te Tai Poutini, Canterbury - Waitaha, Otago - Ōtākou, Southland - Murihiku |
Unlocking Curious Minds with Te Tohē | Te Runanga o Te Rarawa Trustee Limited | $150,000.00 | Northland - Te Tai Tokerau, Auckland - Tāmaki Makaurau |
Te tūhura taiao mā te pūrau (Exploring the world through STEAMS) | Ministry of Inspiration | $50,000.00 | Tasman - Te Tai-o-Aorere, Nelson - Whakatū, Marlborough - Te Tauihu-o-te-waka, Otago - Ōtākou, Southland - Murihiku |
Aotearoa’s pepeketua (native frogs): bilingual resources for communities, iwi, and schools. | NZFrogs | $60,415.17 | Northland - Te Tai Tokerau, Auckland - Tāmaki Makaurau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty - Te Moana-a-Toi-te-Huatahi, Taranaki, Gisborne - Tairāwhiti, Hawkes Bay - Te Matau-a-Māui, Manawatu-Whanganui, Wellington - Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Tasman - Te Tai-o-Aorere, Nelson - Whakatū, Marlborough - Te Tauihu-o-te-waka, West Coast - Te Tai Poutini, Canterbury - Waitaha, Otago - Ōtākou, Southland - Murihiku |
Learning the science of speech through the Māori Pronunciation Tool (MPAi) | University of Auckland | $150,000.00 | Auckland - Tāmaki Makaurau, Waikato, Canterbury - Waitaha |
Silver Science - Hands-on Science for the Young at Heart | Otago Museum Trust Board | $105,600.00 | Otago - Ōtākou, Southland - Murihiku |