The National Geographic Society (NGS) has released a new Request for Proposals (RFP) to support research in geography education across select U.S. states, including Arizona. This opportunity is open to both academic researchers and graduate students and may be a good fit for those working at the intersection of education, environment, and place-based learning.
Award Overview:
NGS is offering:
- Up to $10,000 for faculty researchers
- Up to $5,000 for graduate students
Funding is intended to support research projects that advance geography education and align with the Society's mission to use science, exploration, education, and storytelling to better understand and protect the world.
Research Focus
Proposals must align with at least one of NGS's six focus areas:
- Ocean
- Land
- Wildlife
- Human Histories and Cultures
- Space
- Planetary Health
Projects should also contribute to geography education within the applicant's state and may take interdisciplinary or single-discipline approaches. NGS welcomes work across a range of educational contexts, including formal classrooms, informal learning environments, and community-based settings.
Types of Research Encouraged
Competitive proposals will include a strong research component focused on the educational process or outcomes. Topics may include:
- Environmental or conservation education
- Place-based learning and community connections
- Use of geospatial tools (e.g., MapMaker)
- Experiential or immersive learning
- Learning frameworks such as the Explorer Mindset
- Barriers to access and participation in education
Projects may be new or build on existing work, provided they generate new knowledge (e.g., applying a model to a new population or setting).
Eligibility
Applicants must be affiliated with a public or independent institution of higher education in one of the eligible locations:
Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Utah, or Washington, D.C.
Faculty at all ranks and graduate students (including thesis/dissertation projects) are eligible. NGS encourages applications from individuals from historically underrepresented and underserved communities.
Project Requirements
- Projects must support geography education in the selected state
- Funding must be used during the 2026-2027 academic year
- A final research product is required by August 2027
- Deliverables may include dissertations, theses, white papers, or empirical studies
- Curriculum development or instructional materials are not supported under this RFP
- Indirect costs are not allowed
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted by June 1, 2026. Applicants will need to create an account on the NGS website to access the application form.
For questions:
Arizona, Ohio, Utah, D.C.: Miriam Kamya
Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi: Carley Lovorn
General inquiries: [email protected]