Rising Explorer Grant Program 2027 | Study in United States — The Explorers Club

An idea worth testing in the field, a budget under $2,000, and no requirement to already have a university affiliation. The Rising Explorer Grant Program funds exactly the kind of scrappy, curiosity-driven science that usually struggles to find backers, and it is open to high schoolers right alongside college undergraduates.

Run by the Explorers Club, the grant rewards genuine field research over polished credentials, which makes it one of the more accessible entry points into funded science for younger applicants.

About the Scholarship

The Rising Explorer Grant Program exists to help young people move an idea out of the notebook and into an actual field study. Rather than funding coursework or tuition, it backs specific research projects across biology and ecology, wildlife conservation, environmental science, archaeology and anthropology, and marine and freshwater studies. The program is explicit that it wants genuine scientific studies aimed at generating new knowledge, not personal adventure travel or general school trips dressed up as research.

Open to high school students and college undergraduates from anywhere in the world, the grant removes several of the usual barriers that keep younger researchers out of funded science. There is no requirement for an existing university affiliation or a faculty sponsor, and awards average $2,000, a modest sum by research funding standards but often enough to cover the core costs of a focused field project: sampling equipment, local transport, permits, or basic lab supplies.

Beyond the money itself, selected Rising Explorers are considered for membership in the Explorers Club, a long-running organization connecting scientists, adventurers, and researchers across disciplines and generations. That membership opportunity gives young researchers a foothold in a genuinely established professional network well before most of their peers have finished an undergraduate degree, let alone published anything.

The program sits at a different scale than most of the fellowships and scholarships aimed at more advanced researchers. Students who move on to graduate study after a Rising Explorer project sometimes go on to pursue more substantial funded research opportunities, such as the Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellowship or similar postdoctoral programs, once they have built a track record of independent research. High schoolers using this grant as an early stepping stone toward a funded undergraduate degree might also look ahead to programs like the Gates Scholarship, which covers the full cost of a four-year degree for outstanding students from low-income families. For now, though, the Rising Explorer Grant is squarely about giving a first real research project the resources it needs to actually happen.

The Explorers Club connection is worth understanding on its own terms. Founded over a century ago, the club has a long history tied to expedition science and field research, counting some of history’s most notable explorers and scientists among its past members. Being considered for membership as a teenager or undergraduate is a genuinely unusual opportunity, one that can open doors to mentorship and collaboration well beyond what the grant funding itself provides.

Because awards are modest and the eligibility bar is deliberately low compared to most research funding, the grant tends to draw a wide range of applicants each cycle, from students with access to well-equipped school science programs to those working with almost nothing but a strong idea and personal initiative. Reviewers are generally more interested in the second kind of resourcefulness than in polish, which is part of what makes this grant distinctive among funded research opportunities for young people.

Scholarship Benefits

The grant is structured to remove the biggest practical obstacle facing young researchers: money for a project with no existing institutional backing.

• An award averaging $2,000 to directly fund field research costs
• Practical, hands-on experience conducting genuine scientific research
• A funding and experience foundation that can support future careers in science and exploration
• Consideration for membership in the Explorers Club upon selection
• Access to a global community of students and professionals connected through the Explorers Club network
• Open eligibility regardless of country, background, or existing institutional affiliation
• A credible early research credential that can strengthen future college or scholarship applications

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to high school students and college undergraduates from anywhere in the world
• Applicants from all backgrounds and regions are encouraged to apply
• Candidates must present a strong idea, a clear project plan, and genuine motivation to carry it out
• Projects must focus on field sciences within biology and ecology, wildlife conservation, environmental science, archaeology and anthropology, or marine and freshwater studies
• Proposals must represent genuine scientific studies aimed at generating new knowledge, rather than personal adventure, general travel, or school trips
• The program specifically looks for curious, innovative thinkers committed to contributing to science and planetary wellbeing

Fields of Study Covered

The grant funds field research across a defined set of scientific disciplines rather than open-ended topics of any kind, including:

• Biology and ecology
• Wildlife conservation
• Environmental science
• Archaeology and anthropology
• Marine and freshwater studies

Required Documents

• Project title
• Project description
• Expedition timeline
• Detailed budget
• Information on how and where the project will be conducted
• A plan for how findings will be handled and shared, such as a public lecture, journal article, or school paper
• Two letters of support
• Information about any necessary permits or ethical considerations, if applicable

How to Apply (Step-by-Step)

1. Review the eligibility criteria and confirm your project fits within one of the funded field science disciplines.
2. Develop a clear project title, description, and realistic expedition timeline.
3. Build a detailed budget showing exactly how the requested funds would be used.
4. Prepare a plan for how findings will be shared once the project concludes.
5. Arrange for two letters of support from teachers, mentors, or professionals familiar with your work.
6. Complete the official online application form, answering all required questions.
7. Submit the application, along with any additional required documents, before the August deadline.

Selection Process

Reviewers evaluate applications primarily on the strength and originality of the proposed idea, the clarity and feasibility of the project plan, and genuine evidence of student-driven motivation rather than a project designed mainly around an interesting destination. Because proposals span such different disciplines, from marine biology to archaeology, the committee weighs each project on its own scientific merit rather than comparing across fields directly.

Budget realism also plays a role. A tightly scoped project with a clear, well-justified budget under the average award tends to read as more credible than an ambitious plan that would clearly require far more than $2,000 to actually execute.

Tips to Improve Your Chances

• Choose a project scope that genuinely fits within a roughly $2,000 budget, rather than proposing something that would require significantly more funding to complete
• Be specific about the scientific question your project is trying to answer, not just the location or activity involved
• Include a realistic, detailed budget that shows you have thought through actual costs like equipment, transport, and permits
• Describe a concrete plan for sharing your findings, since this signals the project is aimed at genuine knowledge contribution rather than a one-off experience
• Choose letters of support from people who can speak specifically to your scientific curiosity and ability to carry out independent field work
• Proofread the entire application carefully, since a well-organized, professional submission signals seriousness even when the applicant is still in high school

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a university affiliation to apply?

No. The Rising Explorer Grant is specifically designed to be accessible to high school students and undergraduates without requiring an existing university affiliation or faculty sponsor.

How much funding does the grant provide?

Awards average $2,000, intended to cover core field research costs like equipment, transportation, and permits for a focused project.

What kinds of projects does the grant fund?

The grant supports genuine field science projects in biology and ecology, wildlife conservation, environmental science, archaeology and anthropology, and marine and freshwater studies, rather than general travel or adventure experiences.

Is this grant only open to US students?

No. The program is open to high school and undergraduate students from anywhere in the world, with no restriction based on nationality or region.

What happens if I am selected for the grant?

Beyond receiving funding, selected Rising Explorers are considered for membership in the Explorers Club, connecting them with a global community of researchers and adventurers.

Do I need prior research experience to apply?

No. The program is designed to support a first genuine research project, so prior formal research experience is not a strict requirement as long as the proposal shows a strong, well-developed idea and plan.

Can the grant be used for equipment as well as travel?

Yes. The detailed budget required in the application can include equipment, sampling materials, permits, local transport, and other direct field research costs, not just travel to the research site.