Frequently Asked Questions About Earthwatch Funding
What can Earthwatch offer?
Who is eligible?
What is the Earthwatch model?
How does Earthwatch select projects?
Who are the volunteers?
How much is the Earthwatch field grant?
What does the field grant cover?
What doesn't the field grant cover?
How long does the grant last?
What can Earthwatch offer?
Enthusiastic and committed field assistants
Earthwatch grants are based on an innovative but well-established model of recruiting volunteer field assistants. In the past 30 years, our field assistants have contributed 10 million person-hours and AU$85 million to Earthwatch projects internationally.
Long-term support
We prefer proposals for long-term support.Earthwatch renews about two-thirds of its grants every year. Approximately 35% of our projects have been funded for over 5 years, and 14% for over 10 years.
Sharing information
Earthwatch forms partnerships with key institutions that are able to provide the necessary information systems to ensure that field reports and publications resulting from our projects will reach a wider audience in the environmental sector. For example, information from Earthwatch field research is being made available to the UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
Supporting tomorrow's scientists
Earthwatch has a number of programs aimed at providing extra support for scientists early in their careers, and researchers from developing countries - from training opportunities in the field, to courses with partner institutions.
Training guides and workshops
Earthwatch hosts international training conferences, which bring together both its new and established project scientists to network and take part in training workshops covering such topics as making the most of volunteers, health and safety, emergency procedures, team communication and media relations.
Experienced staff
Earthwatch has been supporting projects internationally since 1971 and has a very experienced staff network to provide guidance and support.
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Who is eligible?
Researchers should normally be of post-doctoral or equivalent experience. However, projects led by doctoral candidates, or scientists with sufficient field and educational experience, and supported by a scientific advisor will be considered. Applicants intending to conduct research in countries other than their own should include host country nationals in their research staff and be able to demonstrate how expertise will be transferred. Letters of support from local partner institutions should be provided.
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What is the Earthwatch model?
Earthwatch pays Principal Investigators a field grant per volunteer on their project. The field grant comes from the financial contribution of the volunteers taking part. A typical field season would comprise several volunteer teams working in the field for a period of between 8 to 15 days. The size of the team will depend upon the type of the data to be collected and the specific field logistics. On average, team sizes vary between 4 - 12 volunteers, providing somewhere between 24 - 60 volunteers per field season on three to six individual teams. Other team lengths and volunteer numbers will be considered.
Earthwatch also funds 1 - 14 day Discovery projects based in Australia and targetting uniquely Australian conservation issues. Participants may be standard volunteers or may include school or family groups or special teacher or corporate employee groups.
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How does Earthwatch select projects?
Our research department initially considers a short concept note submitted by the scientist, which covers the relevance of the research to conservation priorities and Earthwatch Research Areas, the research methods, volunteer activities and some logistical details. If the project meets Earthwatch criteria the scientist will be asked to submit a more detailed full proposal, which is then sent out for peer review. It can take up to 18 months from the preliminary application to the first team of volunteers joining a research project in the field.
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Who are the volunteers?
There is no typical volunteer. Earthwatch recruits volunteers worldwide so a team might consist of three or four different nationalities. Ages range from 16 to over 70. The varying levels of physical ability are matched to project requirements. Most volunteers recruited by Earthwatch are either keen amateurs or have no scientific background, but are highly motivated. English is normally the working language.
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How much is the Earthwatch field grant?
Field grants are awarded according to the number of volunteers and teams required for the field season. For the typical 2-week model, grants average AU$1,500 per volunteer and annual project grants average AU$ 40,000 - AU$ 100,000. For Australia-based Discovery projects with 5-day teams, grants currently average AU$ 700 per volunteer, and the range of annual project grants for 3-7 day team projects is AU$ 4,000 - AU$ 40,000.
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What does the grant cover?
- Food, accommodation and transport in the field for research staff, volunteers and students from the host country
- Travel of lead scientist(s) to and from the field
- Field equipment, including rental costs (e.g. vehicles)
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What doesn't the grant cover?
- Volunteer travel to the rendezvous point
- Purchase of capital equipment (e.g. vehicles)
- Lead scientist or research staff salaries
- Institutional overheads or indirect costs
- Post-expedition data analysis
- Preparation of results for publication
However, Earthwatch Institute works with scientists to try to secure additional funding to cover these elements of the project.
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How long does the grant last?
Each grant is awarded on an annual basis. If the project is successful in terms of research results and volunteer evaluation, the researcher is invited to apply for renewed funding for a second year. Every 3 years a new proposal for Earthwatch support is required, outlining research progress and justifying the need for future funding. The application is assessed by Earthwatch, including an external peer review, to determine whether support will be continued.
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