Jeannie-Marie LeRoi from the Science, Engineering and Technology Faculty Office – and member of the alumni – has been awarded almost $70,000 in national funding to promote awareness of current scientific activities and research in Tasmania and to inspire the next generation of scientists.
A 2010 National Science Week Grant of $28,770, funded by the Department for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research was the largest grant awarded in Tasmania, and one of the largest in the country.
Jeannie-Marie says this grant will help organise the Tasmanian Science Festival, a new initiative aiming to focus public awareness on Tasmanian scientific research. It will be held during National Science Week in August and offer 50 different events, talks, shows, tours, expos and workshops in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie and at schools around the state.
Further to this, Jeannie-Marie's role as the Chair of the National Science Week (Tasmania) committee led to another set of great opportunities for science awareness in Tasmania. The Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research has provided $40,000 as part of the 2010 Science and Society Initiatives program. This funding will enable a year-long program of science events, to be offered by different organisations around the state.
Both of these activities have a common aim – to increase public awareness and engagement in science, through promoting science and research undertaken in Australia and encouraging young people to pursue science careers.
Science, Engineering & Technology Faculty Manager, Mr Wayne Goninon, said “It is not often that general staff obtain national funding for University community engagement activities.” Jeannie-Marie has also been named this year’s winner of the Science Teachers Association of Tasmania’s Winifred Curtis Medal for Excellence in Science Education. Jeannie was STAT’s guest at the presentation of the medal at the CONSTAT dinner on 26 March.