South Sci

Curious Minds south Auckland #

Our mission is to show young people the value of science skills and to highlight career pathways through collaboration with local STEM businesses, researchers and engineers.

Our vision is for all south Auckland children to be leaders in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). We champion STEM education & innovation through community-focused, project-based learning.

SouthSci is an initiative of COMET and the NZ Government’s Curious Minds - He Whenua Hihiri i te Mahara.

WHAT WE OFFER #

We fund innovative projects that give south Auckland young people more opportunities to experience science and technology through hands-on activities and collaborative research.

Schools, kura, community groups and STEM organisations can apply for up to $20,000 in funding to get your research off the ground. We can support you to connect with educators, STEM experts and community partners in your area.

SouthSci has been running since 2015 and has supported over 60 research projects so far. See some examples from our Annual Showcase.

Not based in south Auckland? In 2022, COMET is launching a similar initiative in west Auckland focused especially on increasing STEAM engagement amongst Pacific Island students. Find out about WeSTEM and get in touch today if you’d like to know more.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR #

Anyone can apply for SouthSci funding. We are looking for research projects that are:

Community-driven – projects that are locally relevant and involve community members
Connected with the STEAM industry – project participants work collaboratively with STEAM professionals and practitioners, making the most of their local and technical knowledge to generate new scientific and/or technological outputs. We support all areas of STEAM including kaupapa Māori and Pasifika-led research and mātauranga Māori.
Educational – projects that offer enduring educational value for the young people involved, and two-way learning between the wider community and science partners.

If you’re a STEM expert and want to know more about supporting a SouthSci project, find out more here.

APPLICATION PROCESS #

Applications are assessed in multiple funding rounds throughout the year. Get your application in early for the best chances of being funded. Deadlines for applications are:

Round 1: 25 February | Round 2: 25 March | Round 3: 15 April

Find out more in our SouthSci brochure (English or Te Reo Māori), or check out our Application How-To video, which explains the funding process in detail.

To get started, download the Expression of Interest document or get in touch with the COMET STEM team today!

I have a STEM project idea & would like to know more