Curious Minds funding extended

Taranaki’s scientific curiosity has been given a boost with a twoyear, $300,000 extension of the region’s Curious Minds programme.

The programme, which has so far supported 39 community science projects throughout Taranaki, works with school and community groups who have questions or ideas that can be explored or tested with science.

To date more than 1000 people have been involved in the programme, which is led by Venture Taranaki (VT) and funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Curious Minds has been running in the region since 2015 and to date $680,000 has been invested into a range of projects.

‘‘A further $308,000 will enable even more projects to be undertaken over the next two years,’’ Michelle Jordan, VT’s general manager business, partnerships and skills, said.

The potential of the programme was demonstrated by Ngamatapouri School’s project, which monitors the Waitotara River’s water quality, path and levels, winning a Taranaki Regional Council environmental award this year. Recent projects have also included the generation of sustainable energy to power electric vehicles, and an analysis of spring waters on Mount Taranaki to build knowledge of the current state of volcanic activity of Te Maunga. Curious Minds Participatory Science Platform is open for applications for projects to be undertaken in 2020. For more information or to apply, visit: business.taranaki.info/Innovate/ PSP-and-Curious-Minds.aspx

Schools and community groups from around the mountain are being encouraged to apply for Curious Minds funding after the programme was given a further $308,000 to cover two years of projects.