ince 2021, the OeAD has been coordinating the research funding programme ‘Sparkling Science 2.0’, which is financed by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research (BMFWF). A comprehensive evaluation is now available, which shows that the programme is a great success and is clearly achieving its goals!
Sparkling Science 2.0
To date, two calls for proposals have resulted in 61 citizen science projects being funded with a total of 21 million euros. In these projects, scientific institutions work together with schools and, as far as possible, with partners from industry and society as well as other citizen scientists to conduct participatory research and jointly contribute to innovative research results. In this way, the programme supports the establishment of sustainable research-education collaborations and networks. A large number of people are involved in the projects: to date, more than 400 researchers are working on the projects, as well as almost 30,000 school pupils and around 500 teachers who are involved in the projects through partner schools. In addition, cooperation with more than 38,000 other citizen scientists is planned.
The topics covered by the Sparkling Science projects receiving funding are diverse, with a focus on the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, as well as teaching and learning research. Projects addressing socially relevant issues such as climate change, cultural heritage and new forms of learning are particularly well represented. Many projects are interdisciplinary in nature or explore fields of research that receive only limited funding under other programmes.
Results of the evaluation
The evaluation shows that “Sparkling Science 2.0” produces high-quality scientific results and has a wide range of positive effects on a personal level. These include competence building among all participating groups – especially school pupils, teachers and researchers – improved access to science, including for schools in peripheral regions, and contributions to the implementation of ‘open science’.
The evaluation therefore recommends continuing and consolidating the research funding programme and highlights the added value created by close cooperation between science and society.
The final evaluation report is available here for review (German only)
