General News
11 April, 2026
Kuranda kids discovering a bug’s life
THE Kuranda Conservation Community Nursery has been granted over $15,000 by the State Government to conduct an education program on invertebrates and biodiversity.
The organisation was among 22 recipients of the latest round of Engaging Science Grants totalling $500,000.
Grants of up to $25,000 were available to support events, activities and projects for up to 12 months.
The Kuranda program, Tiny Heroes: Educating the community about Wet Tropics invertebrate biodiversity and conservation, received $15,141 to roll out lessons to school children (in particular, young girls) and regional families over the year.
The organisation said it sought to “develop a more scientific-literate community, inspire girls and women to study natural sciences, and raise awareness of invertebrates’ critical role in ecosystem health”.
“The project also boosts understanding of science in conservation and encourages community action to protect the Wet Tropics.”
Drone mapping of coral reefs and providing hands-on experience to Mossman State High School students will be enhanced following a $25,000 grant to Geonadir Pty Ltd.
The funding will increase the capability of Wavelength Cruises’ drone mapping, to improve coral reef monitoring, enable fieldwork surveys to generate new research on coral reef health, offer STEM experiences for Indigenous and remote students through classroom activities and reef excursions, and improve science communication for approximately 20,000 tourists annually.
A Wild Science program by Nic & Nat received $20,000 to connect regional students to STEM and nature in the Daintree Rainforest. The project will pilot a multi-night nature-based tourism STEM experience in the Daintree Rainforest for school-aged children, in partnership with local remote and regional schools.
Students will engage with scientists and use hands-on tools like iNaturalist, FrogID and BirdLife to contribute citizen science data and explore Indigenous knowledge.
The FNQ projects competed for funding against a record number of applications from across the state.
Minister for Science and Innovation Andrew Powell said Queensland was a key location for nature-based science experiences and was “turning the great outdoors into the state’s biggest science classroom”.
“The government was investing in trailblazing ideas that showcase how science and tourism together can deliver a better future for Queenslanders,” he said.
