This week Inspiring Australia announced the recipients of the Unlocking Australia’s Potential grants for science engagement activities. There has been a flurry of media releases from communicators and some of the 63 successful applicants about the winning proposals.

The $5 million in funding was distributed to all states and territories and I expect that many ASC members were involved in putting in submissions. I send my congratulations to those of you involved in the winning projects and offer my commiserations to the others who had less welcome news.

I look forward to ASC members posting news of their projects on the ASC email and media lists, the website, Facebook, etc. It will be good for the ASC to develop a regular section on our website about how these activities are going. As Kali Madden will soon start to implement out new web system I’ll ask the ASC Communications team to consider how best to add a page about this newly funded programs.

It will be good to follow the progress of these programs and to have a way to measure their effectiveness in engaging their communities. A first step will be for the National Audit team to invite the project leaders to fill in the survey of Australian science engagement activities at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/scienceengageaudit.

May I make this a reminder to the rest of you involved in science engagement activities that the survey closes 30 June 2012. We need the info on as many activities as possible so don’t be left out. Answering the deep and meaningful questions will not only put you and your activity on the map of science engagement in the nation, but will raise the profile of science communication.

Jesse Shore
National president