As part of our efforts to achieve improved mission delivery (‘Engaging people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment’) and build long-term legacy into the scientific research we support, we have undertaken a strategic review of our programme structure and developed four Priority Areas (PAs) which will guide all of our activities.  The PAs: Climate Change, Oceans, Sustainable Cultures, and Sustainable Resource Management will allow Earthwatch to focus support on critical global ecological and cultural priorities that span the majority of threats to environmental sustainability. The PAs are designed to function synergistically with each other to support research, capacity development, education, and other legacy building activities.  

Our approach to project recruitment will now be determined by targets under each of the four PAs, and our ability to adequately support the proposed research to achieve positive long-term outcomes. As a result we will not be accepting formal applications for support, as we have in the past.  Instead, if you would like to be considered for Earthwatch support please feel free to submit a short letter of enquiry summarising your proposed research project (c.500 words) and a CV.   If there is a match to our current targets and available support (funding and/or volunteers) we will invite a full application using the Earthwatch proposal template. If your proposed research does not meet our immediate priorities we will keep your letter of enquiry on file.

It should be noted that we intend to maintain our project portfolio at around 90 projects globally – a number which we are confident we can adequately support to achieve their desired outcomes and legacy. Each year we will accept a small number of new projects on to the portfolio to replace projects that are retired and to fill priority gaps in our research programme, as determined by strategies for each PA. Our project selection process will be more proactive and selective than in the past.

We appreciate your patience during this exciting time in Earthwatch’s history, and look forward to working with you in the near future. If you have any questions, please contact the Research team at

We apologise, but Earthwatch is unable to help with the following enquiries. Please read before contacting us.

  • Funding for Bachelors or Masters degree course dissertations/projects
  • Long-term field positions on Earthwatch projects, paid or unpaid and including internships and voluntary positions
    All staff on Earthwatch projects are selected by the lead scientist, therefore Earthwatch are not able to recruit for field positions directly. The only exception may be occasional positions for Climate Change Field Centre staff. Please check our Jobs page where such opportunities will be advertised
    http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/get_involved/jobs
  • Access to data from Earthwatch projects
    Unfortunately, due to data confidentiality restrictions, Earthwatch cannot distribute data collected on our projects.
  • Contact details for Earthwatch scientists, collaborating organisations or corporate partners

For more information on the following, please see the suggested webpage: