Projects related to water – Oct 12

Posted by National Geographic Society on September 20, 2022

National Geographic Society invites applications for projects related to water

The National Geographic Society has issued a request for proposals for projects related to water.

According to National Geographic, freshwater is vital for life on Earth, people, species, and places across the natural world. Yet, in many places around the globe, the management of freshwater resources is becoming unsustainable. Understanding the interconnectedness and complexity of local and regional freshwater issues is critical to living sustainably on Earth and is an integral part of the National Geographic Society’s mission to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.

Through this RFP, National Geographic seeks innovative photography, short film, writing, data visualization, and other storytelling proposals to help water users understand the issues around global water sustainability. This work will be supported by data, science, and cartography provided by the National Geographic-supported World Water Map developed by Utrecht University. Applicants may request up to $20,000 to support projects that center around the following themes related to water:

Interconnectedness: Water is the great connector. Rivers span political boundaries, flowing from one community to the next. Moreover, nothing breaks down silos like water. It is bound up in cultural and religious practices, gender, geology, geography, public health, nature, geopolitics, and the production and movement of food and other products. National Geographic seeks stories that build nuance around standard and didactic narratives, helping audiences to understand how these topics are all connected, just as we are.

Justice: The story of water is also fundamentally the story of power. Who controls access, where it flows, and what this precious resource is used for–all boils down to privilege. How are issues of race and inequality refracted through the lens of access to water?

Change and Adaptation: Changes on earth due to global warming, human population growth, and technology all result in changes to water supply and demand; water is an indicator of these changes to life on earth. Moreover, water and climate change are more closely linked than most people realize. National Geographic seeks stories of solutions and resilience, particularly how people adapt to these changes.

To be eligible, applicants must be 18 or older.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the National Geographic Society website.

Deadline: October 12, 2022