The National Geographic Society recently offered MSU students a free workshop on applying for Youth Explorers Grants (YEG) and shared some of the possibilities of grant funding.

The YEG is a $2,000 to $5,000 grant geared specifically toward helping individuals ages 18 to 25 fund their ideas. The three subsets of the YEG program are the Committee for Research and Exploration, the Expeditions Council and the Conservation Trust

For the workshop, NGS brought in three former YEG recipients, Neil Losin, Amy Higgins and Andy Maser, to share their experiences.

Neil Losin investigated invasive anole lizards in southern Florida, where he found that a lizard’s dominance is related to its head shape.

Losin’s research led him to discover that the invasive Anole species in Florida has a rounder head than non-invasive species, implying that the invasive lizard has a stronger bite force and is more aggressive and dominant.

Amy Higgins studied the relationship between artificial glaciers and agriculture in Ladahk, India. While in India, Higgins met a local retired engineer, Chewang Norphel. Norphel created artificial glaciers by diverting water into basins to be frozen in the winter.  These glaciers create a stockpile of water for local farmers in the month of April.

Higgins is researching the sustainability of using these ice banks for agriculture, especially in regions where fresh water is becoming more scarce.

Andy Maser travelled to Bolivia to observe the receding glaciers and their effect on local populations. Maser observed that the impact of humans has caused the glaciers to recede to a point at which they cannot regenerate. The lack of water has forced many farmers to abandon their farms and migrate toward the city of La Paz.

The process of applying for a grant consists of four steps:

1.      Submit a pre-application while you are between the ages 18-25.
2.      If the pre-application passes review, you may submit a full application.
3.      Research budget costs and seek other sources of funding as well.
4.      Await notification from the review committee.

The overarching theme of the presentations revolved around the phrase “don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.” Each recipient stressed the importance of following his or her passion.

For more information on NGS projects and grants go to: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/grants-programs/young-explorers/