Seed Grants 2023 – Call for applications!

ACSA is excited to announce our sixth round of Seed Grants!  As a way of giving back and investing in our members we are offering a grant of $2000 to an ACSA member to seed their professional growth or their project’s growth.

What’s in it for you?

• $2000 to seed your professional development or your project’s growth, or assist with publication costs for an open access journal.
• Exposure for your project and/or organisation.
• Motivation to initiate something you have always wanted to do.
• Quick and easy application process (online application form).

Last year our two ACSA Seed Grant winners were:

PlantingSeeds

Dr Judy Friedlander

A national school BioBlitz, held in National Biodiversity Month, to generate STEM skills and biodiversity data, with associated resources, curriculum links and workshops for teachers. Read their progress report here.

Ferox Australis

Dr Larissa Braz Souza

Publication of a paper in the open-access journal Citizen Science: Theory and Practice exploring the outcomes of the Great Southern Bioblitz.

Could you be next?

In 2023, in recognition of recent increasing costs associated with citizen science project delivery, this year we are offering 1 single $2000 grant, rather than 2x$1000 grants. The grant funding may be used for either of 2 types of funding streams. 1) an initiative or professional development to advance a project, or 2) for publication of a paper in an open access journal.

To be eligible for Seed Grant funding, proposed activities must be in line with ACSA’s strategic goals of Participation and Practice. These goals are:

Participation – Encourage & promote broad and meaningful participation of society in citizen science so people become partners in creating science & increasing science literacy.

Practice – Support the development of tools, methods, infrastructure, and resources to strengthen the practice, use and study of citizen science.

Grant Type 1 – Citizen science initiative or professional development to begin a new project or advance an existing one.

For example (but not limited to):

• Activities that encourages participation in a citizen science project; could be a workshop, an event or a school outreach program, or an app.
• Development of a new citizen science project that aims to meet the above goals
• Resources or training for citizen scientists participating in a project you run
• Attendance at a relevant course or event, such as a conference.  Can include registration, accommodation, flights etc.

Grant Type 2 – Publication of a citizen science related paper in an open access journal to enable as many people as possible to benefit from what you have learnt.

For example (but not limited to):

• Description of best practice citizen science methods 
• Publication of the outcomes for science and society of a citizen science project 
• A broader citizen science research project or an evaluation of a citizen science project (or projects).

Who can enter?

This grant is open to all current ACSA members. If you are not a member, join now to be eligible.

How to apply

Complete the Seed Grants Application Form before Friday 6th October 2023 5pm AEDT.

Please note, applications should be kept short to reflect the value of the grants. A maximum character limit applies to each judging criteria. 

Judging criteria

Applications will be judged on the applicant’s response to the following:

1. Short description of proposed activity (maximum 200 characters).
2. Context or background to your proposed activity (maximum 1500 characters).
3. Detailed description of how the Seed Grant will be spent (maximum 1000 characters).
4. In what way does your proposal address ACSA’s strategic goals of Participation and Practice (maximum 1000 characters)?
5. Describe the expected outcomes and benefits of your proposed activity (maximum 500 characters).
6. Brief timeline for the delivery of your proposed activity (maximum 500 characters).

Key dates

Entries must be received by Friday 6th October 2023 5pm AEST.

The recipient of the Seed Grants will be contacted by email or phone by 13th October 2023, and the winning entrants will be announced at the ACSA CitSciOz23 Conference, 21-23 November 2023.

The recipient will be invited to present at the ACSA CitSciOz23 Conference, 21-23 November 2023. 

Terms and conditions

• The grant is open to current ACSA members only.
• The activity outlined application must be able to be completed within the year following the awarding of the Seed Grant.
• The Seed Grant is one (1) grant of $2000 awarded for either 1) an initiative or professional development, or 2) for open access paper publication.
• The recipient will be asked to provide photos and a blog outlining how they intend to use the Seed Grants, for publication on the ACSA website. Additional information may be required for a year following the awarding of the Seed Grant.
• Information provided by the recipient may be used by ACSA for promotional/publicity purposes. This may include, and is not restricted to, the information being used on websites, social media, printed material, press releases etc.
• Personal information provided to ACSA can be used by ACSA, however such use will only be in connection with the Seed Grant.
• The deliberations of the judging panel remain confidential. All recommendations and decisions taken are binding and final and no correspondence will be entered into on such matters.
• The judges reserve the right not to award the grants if, in their view, the quality of entries is insufficiently meritorious.
• No entries will be received or considered after the close of entries.
• Failure to meet all conditions of entry will automatically disqualify an entry.