The National Geographic Society is accepting proposals for its “Uncovering Human Origins in Asia and Africa” to encourage further investigation of hominid evolution in Africa and Asia, with preference given to projects in relatively unexplored parts of those continents.

Priority will be given to projects that aim to do one or more of the following:   

• Discover or explore new paleoanthropological fossil sites in Africa or Asia, particularly those in Central and West Africa and those in East, Southeast, South, and Central Asia
• Design or test new methodologies for discovering or exploring paleoanthropological sites in Africa or Asia
• Develop local capacity in human origins exploration in Africa or Asia

Typical proposals should request less than $30,000; however, applicants may request up to $50,000 if they are running a field school for students from the region. Successful applicants should use awarded funds within one year. Up to 20 percent of the total can be used as a stipend for the applicant and/or team members. (Please see the Preparing Your Proposal page regarding stipend eligibility and other budgetary guidance.) Projects should be research-focused but can integrate conservation, education, storytelling, or technology as a secondary component. All applications should include a clear review of the state of knowledge about human origins in the region and, if applicable, a plan for evaluating the success of the proposed capacity development activities (e.g., field school).

Submit your proposal online