The GeoScienceWorld Graduate Studies Award is an annual scholarship designed to support graduate students who bring fresh perspectives and ideas to advance the geosciences. The recipient will receive $5,000 and have their winning essay published in GSW’s open-access journal, Lithosphere.

Science thrives when students are unencumbered in contributing their unique experiences, ideas, and perspectives to drive discovery and innovation. By fostering an inclusive and welcoming geoscience community, we create space for new ways of thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and groundbreaking research that benefits the entire field. The GSW Graduate Studies Award seeks to support graduate students who contribute to this vision, ensuring that the next generation of geoscientists can pursue their ambitions freely without the limitation of societal and socioeconomic barriers.

Guiding Principles

• To foster an inclusive and dynamic geoscience community by supporting students whose perspectives may be impacted because of adversity.
• To reduce financial barriers that can limit participation in academic and professional opportunities.
• To highlight new ideas, fresh thinking, and diverse viewpoints that contribute to the future of the geosciences.

Award Terms
Funds are intended to help awardees pay for expenses related to their education and future careers and awardees are expected to use award funds consistent with the educational purposes of the award. Awardees will be required to submit two follow up forms documenting use of the funds consistent with the intended purposes of the scholarship.  Any published work resulting from the award must acknowledge the award and GSW. Awardees will be provided with an award agreement to be signed by both parties specifying the terms and conditions of the scholarship, including:

• limitation of use of the grant for educational purposes
• the amount/term of grant 
• how the grant will be paid
• any conditions which would require repayment of the grant
• recipient’s reporting and tax obligations
• any published work resulting from the award acknowledge the award and GSW

Eligibility
The Award is open to graduate students who meet all of the following criteria:

• Are enrolled in an accredited U.S. institution in an earth sciences, planetary sciences, or earth science–adjacent graduate degree program
• Are at least 18 years of age at the time of submission
• Have faced or navigated barriers in their personal, academic, or professional journey
• Agree that, if selected to receive an award and they possess a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) or U.S. Tax Identification Number (TIN), they will provide it to GeoScienceWorld to facilitate payment

Employees of GeoScienceWorld and the Award Selection Panel, including companies involved in the implementation and execution of the Award, and the immediate families and those living in the same household of the foregoing, are not eligible to enter. Government officials are also not eligible to enter. Entrants may be subject to rules imposed by their institutions or employers relative to their participation in trade promotions and should check with their institutions or employers for any relevant policies. 

Deadlines

• 2026 application deadline: March 27, 2026 11:59 p.m. (EDT).
• Results reported to applicants via email in June.
• Grant checks will be mailed by June 30, 2026.

Essay Question
In 500–800 words, please provide a narrative that connects your personal history, scientific perspective, and professional goals. We are most interested in your personal perspective, reasoning, and growth, rather than a polished summary of achievements.

Describe a specific pivotal moment or barrier you navigated in your personal, academic, or professional journey. Rather than listing challenges, focus on one concrete experience. What was the situation, how did it shape your perspective on the geosciences, and what did it teach you about resilience or belonging in the field?

Grounded in your experiences, articulate your vision for the future of Earth, planetary, or related sciences. Identify a blind spot, unmet need, or opportunity for innovation you see in the field. How could the geosciences evolve to be more inclusive, innovative, or responsive to today’s scientific and societal challenges?

Finally, connect these pieces by describing your career ambitions and the tangible impact you hope to have. 

Essays should be original works written for the submission. Each essay will be evaluated by a panel of judges selected by GSW. No prior publication or employment record is required, and essays will be judged on the following criteria: your scientific vision (40%), your personal journey and aspirations (30%), and how effectively your essay weaves these elements together (30%).

Use of AI Tools in Your Application
GeoScienceWorld recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly used in academic and professional settings. Applicants may use AI tools as a support, but not as a substitute for their own thinking, experiences, or voice.

Acceptable uses include: brainstorming ideas or outlining responses; Editing for clarity, grammar, or structure; checking tone or organization

Unacceptable uses include: generating full essay responses; submitting AI-written content that does not reflect your own experiences, perspectives, or understanding; misrepresenting AI-generated text as entirely your own work.

Disclosure Requirement
Applicants must include a brief disclosure statement at the end of their essay indicating whether AI tools were used and, if so, how.  Failure to disclose AI use, or submitting work that appears substantially AI-generated, will result in ineligibility.

Taxation
In order to receive a grant payment, those individuals with a Society Security Number (SSN) or U.S. Tax Identification Number (TIN) must provide their SSN or TIN to GSW.  Internal Revenue Services rules require U.S. Citizens, U.S. Resident Aliens and other individuals to have a SSN or TIN.  Awardees who are required to have an SSN or TIN and fail to provide it to GSW will have their award revoked.  Awards may be taxable by the IRS.  GSW is required to report awards to the IRS and to issue 1099 forms to awardees at the end of each calendar year.  Recipients are required to determine whether their award is taxable and are advised to consult a professional tax accountant to make this determination.  GSW cannot offer tax advice to awardees.