On Monday, Microsoft Corp. and National Geographic announced a new partnership to advance scientific exploration and research on critical environmental challenges with the power of artificial intelligence (AI). The newly created $1 million AI for Earth Innovation Grant program will provide award recipients with financial support, access to Microsoft cloud and AI tools, inclusion in the National Geographic Explorer community, and affiliation with National Geographic Labs, an initiative launched by National Geographic to accelerate transformative change and exponential solutions to the world’s biggest challenges by harnessing data, technology and innovation. Individuals and organizations working at the intersection of environmental science and computer science can apply today at https://www.nationalgeographic.org/grants/grant-opportunities/ai-earth-innovation/.
The $1 million AI for Earth Innovation Grant program will provide financial support to between five and 15 novel projects that use AI to advance conservation research toward a more sustainable future. The grants will support the creation and deployment of open-sourced trained models and algorithms that will be made broadly available to other environmental researchers, which offers greater potential to provide exponential impact.
Qualifying applications will focus on one or more of the core areas: agriculture, biodiversity conservation, climate change and water. Applications are open as of today and must be submitted by Oct. 8, 2018. Recipients will be announced in December 2018. Those who want more information and to apply can visit https://www.nationalgeographic.org/grants/grant-opportunities/ai-earth-innovation/.