--- title: New grants encourage community participation in water management description: Calling all citizen scientists! 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The Federal Government has recently announced $4.4 million worth of grants to boost community engagement in large-scale scientific projects, including water management. Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Arthur Sinodinos announced funding for 13 projects aimed at encouraging widespread participation in experiment design, data collection and sample analyses. “[The grants] will mobilise a league of enthusiastic ‘citizen scientists’ to assist Australia’s leading universities and scientific organisations in their research,” [Sinodinos said](http://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/sinodinos/media-releases/44m-mobilise-australia%E2%80%99s-citizen-scientists). One project to receive funding is CSIRO’s Eye on Water project, which asks individuals to contribute information about the ecological health of waterways using the Eye on Water app. “These citizens will generate a large pool of valid data for calibration of satellite information, and provide a synoptic overview of river, lake and coastal water quality for natural resource management in Australia,” the project description stated. The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) will also receive funding to engage volunteers, community groups and students with collecting water samples to determine the effects of sunscreens on marine health and ecology. Samples will be analysed for potential sunscreen contaminants using analytical instruments and eco/nano-toxicological assessment to produce a comprehensive research data set. This data set and inputs from participants involved will contribute to a policy document that will be distributed to various stakeholders, including federal authorities. Other projects include: another initiative from RMIT to engage local councils to mitigate urban heat islands and local climate change; Macquarie University's efforts to measure biodiversity in remote Aboriginal communities; and the ClimateWatch project from the Earthwatch Institute, which will collate local, regional and national data on biological response to climate change. “By harnessing people power and technologies like smartphone apps and the internet, these studies will have a greater impact than a small team of scientists can achieve on their own,” Sinodinos said. “It also gives communities greater buy-in and access to the information generated, helping them to be more informed on these issues and aware of the value of science to our lives.” Citizen Science Grants are part of the four-year, $29.8 million Inspiring Australia science engagement program, which encourages community participation in science and technology. You can view a full list of the citizen science projects [here](https://www.business.gov.au/Assistance/Inspiring-Australia-Science-Engagement/Citizen-Science-Grants/Citizen-Science-Grants-Grant-Recipients). [ Government ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/government) [ Citizen Science ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/citizen-science) [ Engagement ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/engagement) [ Funding ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/funding) [ Water Management ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/water-management) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=New%20grants%20encourage%20community%20participation%20in%20water%20management&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/new-grants-encourage-community-participation-in-water-management) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/new-grants-encourage-community-participation-in-water-management) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/new-grants-encourage-community-participation-in-water-management) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/new-grants-encourage-community-participation-in-water-management) ## RELATED NEWS ### [ Citizen scientists help boost water management in Australia’s red centre ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/citizen-scientists-help-boost-water-management-in-australias-red-centre) Ruth Cooper Water is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of central Australia – more likely you’re picturing that… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/citizen-scientists-help-boost-water-management-in-australias-red-centre) [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Kimberley-region.jpg?width=352&name=Kimberley-region.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/worlds-largest-freshwater-citizen-science-project-set-to-tap-into-groundwater-quality) ### [ World’s largest freshwater citizen science project set to tap into groundwater quality ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/worlds-largest-freshwater-citizen-science-project-set-to-tap-into-groundwater-quality) Cecilia Harris Groundwater is an important resource across northern Australia and, with vast distances to contend with, not a lot is known about… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/worlds-largest-freshwater-citizen-science-project-set-to-tap-into-groundwater-quality) ### [ A rubbish idea: GPS-tracked bottles show how litter moves through Melbourne’s waterways ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/a-rubbish-idea-gps-tracked-bottles-show-how-litter-moves-through-melbournes-waterways) Water Source From cigarette butts to plastic bottles, 95% of the litter that ends up in Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay travels there from suburban… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/a-rubbish-idea-gps-tracked-bottles-show-how-litter-moves-through-melbournes-waterways) Advertising --- ### Subscribe to our newsletters Sign up to get the latest news and insights from us Advertising --- ![white arrow pointing upwards](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-white-arrow-up.svg) Top [![Footer-logo-02](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Footer-logo-02.svg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/) The **Australian Water Association** acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across Australia, where we live, work and play, for their deep connection to our precious waters and land. 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