Sparkling Science 2.0: BMBWF funds 34 outstanding citizen science projects with 11.5 million euros The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) funds 34 innovative projects within the framework of the research programme “Sparkling Science 2.0”. The aim is to strengthen cooperation between science, schools and society. To this end the funding budget was increased by an additional 2 million euros to a total of 11.5 million euros. Sparkling Science is implemented by the national education agency OeAD, which has chosen #youngsciencerocks as its motto for 2022. A total of 120 schools as well as 56 cooperation partners from science and 32 cooperation partners from business and society in Austria will be involved in the 34 funded projects under the project management of 18 scientific institutions. In total, the 34 funded projects are expected to reach some 42,000 pupils and some 30,000 other citizen scientists. The funded projects can start at the beginning of the school year 2022/23. The federal minister Martin Polaschek thinks that it is particularly important that many schools should take part. “With Sparkling Science science education and citizen science should also reach schools that are not located in places where there are higher education institutions. As federal minister for education, science and research it is therefore important to me that schools in Austria get to know research and research processes up close and can collaborate in projects. The encounter with researchers is expected to actively promote interest in science.” In September 2021 the Sparkling Science research programme (2007-2019), which is unique in Europe, was relaunched under the name of “Sparkling Science 2.0”. From 1 September to 9 November 2021 scientific institutions in Austria were able to submit project proposals in which pupils will conduct research on innovative topics side by side with scientists. One focus of the call was on developing citizen science expertise through international networking. With the additional funding “Science at Schools” the programme also focuses on involving schools that had not yet been active in the programme or in science education or that are located in peripheral areas of Austria. 34 funded projects – Increase of the funding budget by 2 million euros A total of 168 valid project applications were submitted. With the 9.5 million euros originally made available 28 innovative projects could have been funded. The BMBWF has now increased the budget for “Sparkling Science 2.0” by an additional 2 million euros. This means that another six outstanding citizen science projects can be supported. This was made possible by reallocating budget funds within the OeAD that could not be used for mobility programmes due to the pandemic. The OeAD’s managing director, Jakob Calice, says: “Trust in science and research urgently needs to be strengthened, which is why we have proclaimed our annual motto #youngsciencerocks. With Sparkling Science we will be able to get thousands of young people excited about science and research.” Key data of the funded projects All formally valid submissions were reviewed by at least two scientific reviewers and an education expert and the best projects were finally recommended for funding by a scientific board of trustees. The funded projects cover a broad range of scientific and scholarly disciplines: from natural sciences and technology to humanities, social sciences and medicine. It is gratifying that the focus on “Science at Schools” has led to numerous new research and education cooperations. For example, 19 of the partner schools are new and are taking part in a Sparkling Science project for the first time. It should also be emphasised that there are 4 partner schools and 16 cooperation partners abroad. Insight into funded projects The funded project proposals are thematically broad and range from multilingualism and inclusion, technical assistance systems and energy efficiency to biodiversity. The reduction of science scepticism and the development of the global and regional climate are further topics, as can also be seen in the following two project examples: In the research project “We Talk About Science” science communication is to be brought into schools to promote informed trust in science through participatory communication. In the project, which is led by the University of Graz in cooperation with the University College of Teacher Education Vienna/Krems, pupils will work closely with students and science communicators to write articles on scientific topics that also touch on the pupils’ living environments, such as carbon monoxide in the context of climate change. The focus is on partner schools in rural regions in order to establish long-term STEM offers there as well. The interdisciplinary project “FFF Glacier Worlds” of the University of Innsbruck is dedicated to the topical issue of the climate crisis. The focus here is on the retreat of glaciers and the creation of virtual glacier environments for the future of climate change education. Pupils from four partner schools in Tyrol, Vienna and Bavaria will be involved in the entire research process within this project and can actively shape the translation of climate change education from real to virtual space. A newly created VR glacier module will enrich the lessons. Further details of all funded projects will be available at www.sparklingscience.at as of the school year 2022/23. Enquiries and Contact: OeAD – Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation Mag. Ursula Hilmar +43 1 53408-270 presse@oead.at www.oead.at