Earthwatch Marine Conservation Grant

Overview

_NOTE:  We will not be soliciting research pre-proposals/proposals at this time. We are hopeful that we can relaunch our RFP process later in 2025 for new projects to begin in 2027._

Background

Since 1971, Earthwatch has funded scientists working with citizen-scientist participants to increase our understanding of ecosystems and find sustainable solutions to global change. Projects we fund produce rigorous, relevant, and impactful science. Incorporating public volunteer participants in fieldwork increases the broader impacts of the research we fund by increasing their scientific awareness, understanding, and commitment to a conservation-minded and sustainable lifestyle.

The Earthwatch Marine Conservation RFP invites pre-proposals from scientists for research that will take measurable action to address global change in marine ecosystems by:

* Increasing scientific knowledge and public awareness of environmental challenges to marine ecosystems, while providing locally relevant solutions;
* Increasing partnerships with local people, communities, governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and corporations at local and international levels; and
* Informing management plans and environmental policies.

We invite pre-proposals for field-based research by qualified scientists on the following topics:

* Food-web relationships driven by apex predators and other keystone species and their effects on biodiversity and ecosystem productivity;
* Sea turtle ecology and conservation, including foraging research and enhancing sea turtle nesting success through habitat restoration and direct conservation intervention. Prioritizing projects in the West Indies and Caribbean, particularly Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands;
* Conserving and/or restoring threatened ecosystems, prioritizing coral reefs, mangroves, salt marshes, coastal wetlands, and prime sea turtle nesting beaches;
* Climate change impacts on marine ecology, particularly sea-level rise, ocean acidification, marine biodiversity, species adaptation, and marine carbon sequestration;
* Ecological restoration, to repair damaged marine ecosystems and improve their management;
* Urban marine ecology, particularly increasing resiliency to climate responses;
* Marine macro and micro plastic impacts and reduction; and
* Marine research that promotes human-wildlife coexistence

Please see our statement on the use of the terms “citizen” science and scientist here.

Eligibility

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* All pre-proposals must be submitted by the PI, who is also expected to hold full scientific oversight over the field research.
* The lead PI, or at least one member of the research team, must have a Ph.D. in the area of the proposed research and an affiliation with a university, government or tribal agency, or science-focused NGO.
* To fit our citizen-science model, unless otherwise stated in the request for proposals, all proposed projects must:
* Have quantifiable goals and measurable impacts of action taken by the project;
* Have a 3-year or longer duration (longer-term research will receive priority support);
* Incorporate field-based research and data collection, with participants sufficiently trained while in the field;
* Have data gathered primarily by citizen-scientist participants recruited by Earthwatch;
* Field a minimum of four (4) research teams per year (the average project fields 6-8 teams per year), with 4–15 participants per team as needed for data collection;
* Field research teams are typically 7–9 days in length, with some projects hosting 10–14-day teams;
* Provide reputable housing for volunteers within a 45-minute drive from site;
* Field adult, high school and college student, teacher, and/or corporate groups;
* Be run in English, with all communications by field staff and supporting documents in English;
* Educate volunteers about the project’s science and its relevance to global priorities;
* Prioritize locally run vendors, partners and businesses in preparing field logistics (including food), with a focus on those that adhere to sustainable business practices;
* Collaborate with local community stakeholders through engagement, outreach and contributions to conservation actions.
* We fund the following field expenses:
* Food and housing for PIs/co-PIs, field technicians, and Earthwatch participants
* Support staff (including: cooks, logistics coordinators, wildlife guards, drivers, etc.)
* Field technicians
* Participant field transportation
* PI and co-PI transport to the field
* Field equipment and supplies

Ineligibility

* We are not able to fund the following:
* Scientist salaries
* Student tuition
* Institutional overhead
* Capital equipment
* Post-fielding data analysis