The Geological Society of America is set up to promote and enhance geological sciences in the service of the humankind and stewardship of the world. The organization is committed to provide student research grants to students who are attending research based degree programs. This is to foster studies by students who are either in their senior year of their undergraduate studies, or at the Masters or Ph.D level.
Students who long to contribute to the progression of geosciences can apply for the Geological Society of America grant program. Nearly half of grant applicants are approved for funding through this particular program. Although the GSA is open to both Americans and non-Americans, grants are awarded only to the members of the organization. The primary role of the program is to support students who are enrolled in colleges or universities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, or Central America in pursuing their thesis research in geological sciences.
The GSA awards up to two graduate students with $1,000 to $4,000 worth of scholarship money. One award is given to students practicing a Master’s degree while the other is given to students pursuing a Doctoral degree. The amount of grant money that is awarded to students will be based on the expenses needed to complete the research project. Therefore, students who are applying for this grant program must carefully and completely fill out the application so as to show all the necessary details about the research project that they will be working. These expenses include the cost of housing, travel, university research equipment, as well as supplies and customized equipment that are vital to complete the project.
As mentioned earlier, the GSA provides proportionate grant money to a qualified student’s research. However, students cannot use the grant award to cover the cost of tuition nor for standard research equipment. Applicants must submit a research proposal indicating the coverage of the research they will pursue. It is the college grant application review board who will determine and decide who will receive the grant money. A year after the money has been awarded to the students the GSE will be appraised about the student’s researches through an electronic progress report form.