Photograph by Devlin Gandy/National Geographic
Our planet is at a crossroads—there is both an opportunity and a critical need to act. We must increase the global understanding of our planet and create a community of change, driven by data and cutting-edge technology, to adequately address the many pressing scientific questions and environmental challenges we face. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning can help transform conservation work by collecting and analyzing more precise data, producing faster and more meaningful insights, and accelerating promising solutions.
The National Geographic Society (NGS) and Microsoft’s AI for Earth program are partnering to support the exploration of how AI can help us understand, engage, and protect the planet. The $1 million AI for Earth Innovation Grant will provide grants to 5-15 novel projects that improve the way we monitor, model, and ultimately manage Earth’s natural systems for a more sustainable future.
The grants will support the creation and deployment of open source trained models and algorithms that are available to other environmental researchers and innovators and thereby have the potential to provide exponential impact.
To qualify, applications should outline a proposal to use AI for conservation in at least one of the following core areas:
Below are just a few examples of the types of tools that we are interested in supporting:
For more examples of projects that combine human ingenuity and AI technology to solve some of the biggest environmental challenges of our time, refer to current Microsoft AI for Earth projects.
Grant Resources: Typical proposal requests should be less than $100,000; however, applicants may request up to $200,000. Successful applicants may use awarded funds over one year. (Please see the Preparing Your Proposal page regarding stipend eligibility and other budgetary guidance.)
In addition to financial support, successful proposals will receive free access to AI for Earth API’s, applications, tools, and tutorials, and support for their computational work on Microsoft Azure.
Project Requirements: All models supported through this grant must be open source, and grant recipients must be willing to share their models for use by other environmental researchers and innovators.
Applicant Qualifications: We recommend that the main applicant has a demonstrated background in environmental science and/or technology, and we require that at least one member of the team has strong enough technical skills (such as AI, machine learning, statistical data analysis, scientific modeling, software development, and/or remote sensing) to complete the proposed project successfully.
We believe great ideas spring from a diversity of experiences, and thus encourage applications from all over the world.
Application Categories: When applying for this RFP, please select “Changing Planet” in the Lens dropdown menu on the Project Description tab of the application.
Timelines: Please note the RFP deadline and also the project timeline is different from other National Geographic grant programs. On the Eligibility Requirement popup, check the box for a 6 months later start date, so you can still access the Grants Portal. But in the application, input January 1, 2019 as your start date. Projects should be complete by December 31, 2019.
If you have further questions about the AI for Earth Innovation RFP, please email us at grantsinfo@ngs.org.
Learn more about what you will need to prepare your grant proposal
and begin your application.

Please read and verify that you meet National Geographic's Eligibility Requirements before beginning your application.