Education is power. Apply for the Fully Funded Gilchrist Fieldwork Award 2025.
The Gilchrist Fieldwork Award, first established by the Gilchrist Educational Trust in 1990, provides full funding for unique research projects. While fully funded and awarded by the Trust, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) administers the award. As a charitable and professional body, the RGS reaches millions annually, supporting over 16,000 members through initiatives that advance the field of geography and its related disciplines.
Geography serves as a valuable framework for integrating knowledge across fields, contributing significantly to resource management and environmental sustainability. Learning geography—whether academically or through real-world experiences like travel and fieldwork—enhances global awareness and fosters responsible citizenship.
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The Gilchrist Award, valued at £15,000, is granted annually to a research team presenting an exceptional proposal aimed at advancing geographical knowledge through rigorous international fieldwork. The funding supports one comprehensive field research session with a focus on generating high-quality data. Applications should emphasize collaboration with local communities, aiming for mutual benefit.
Apply for the Fully Funded Gilchrist Fieldwork Award 2025
This award welcomes submissions from geographers, ecologists, anthropologists, archaeologists, earth scientists, and researchers in related fields. The grant is reserved for researchers with a PhD who are affiliated with a UK higher education or research institution.
Location: United Kingdom
Benefits
The Gilchrist Fieldwork Award provides a £15,000 grant to support international fieldwork, fostering pioneering research by small academic teams and researchers.
Eligibility
- Funding allocation is at the discretion of the Society.
- Researchers can only submit one application per annual cycle, with some exceptions for specific awards, such as the Gilchrist Fieldwork Award.
- Applicants cannot apply for funding for fieldwork that is already in progress or completed.
- Award funds must be used as specified in the application, covering travel, living expenses, data collection, and temporary research support.
- Additional childcare costs that arise directly from field activities may be claimed, except for costs related to regular working hours.
- The award does not cover salaries, buyouts of staff time, or conference attendance (except for the 30th International Geological Congress Award).
- Equipment and lab expenses should comprise no more than 20% of the awarded funds.
- Funds are non-transferable to other individuals or organizations.
- The Society reserves the right to rescind or recall funds at any time.
For projects that are part of a broader research initiative, the specific component should have clear, independent objectives.
Eligible Regions: Open to all
