Student Research Grant Guidelines

1. Purpose

The grants are intended to help offset the costs of geochemistry-related research, including analytical work (e.g., geochemical analyses, sample preparation, isotopic or mineralogical analysis), sample collection supplies, and other direct research costs. The program is designed to encourage student engagement with applied geochemistry, build connections with AAG, and generate content and visibility for the AAG website and EXPLORE.

2. Award

• Up to five (5) grants up to a maximum of USD $3,000 each will be awarded per year (total program budget: $15,000/year, subject to annual approval by AAG Council).
• Each grant of up to USD $3,000 will be paid in two instalments: an initial payment of up to USD $2,000 following confirmation of the award, and a final payment of up to USD $1,000 upon receipt by the AAG Education Committee of the final report prepared for publication in EXPLORE.
• Grants are one-time awards and are not renewable within the same project.
• Funds may be used for analytical costs, sample collection and laboratory supplies, and other direct research costs related to the applicant’s geochemistry research project. Funds may not be used for tuition, salary, or conference travel.

3. Eligibility

• Applicant must be a current AAG Student Member in good standing at the time of application.
• Applicant must be enrolled in a M.Sc. or Ph.D. program at a recognized university.
• The proposed research must be in applied geochemistry related to exploration geochemistry, environmental geochemistry, mineral deposit geochemistry, geochemical mapping, analytical method development or isotope geochemistry.
• Applicants may hold other scholarships or grants concurrently; the AAG grant should be identified as supplementary support in the budget section of the application.

4. Application Requirements

Applicants must log in to the AAG website using their AAG Student Member credentials and complete the online Student Research Grant Application Form. The application must include:

• Applicant and institutional information (name, university, degree program, expected graduation date)
• Supervisor’s name and contact information
• Project title and a research summary (maximum 750 words) describing the research being addressed, methods, and expected significance
• An itemized budget showing how the requested funds (up to $3,000) will be used
• A brief letter of support or reference from the applicant’s research supervisor
• Applicant’s signature/certification confirming the information provided is accurate

5. Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed and ranked by the AAG Education Committee based on:

• Scientific merit and relevance of the research to applied geochemistry
• Clarity and feasibility of the proposed work and budget
• Potential benefit of AAG funding to the completion of the research
• Strength of supervisor’s letter of support

6. Conditions of Award

As a condition of receiving the grant, recipients must:

• Submit a midterm report of no more than 200 words to the AAG Education Committee, describing research progress and how the grant funds are being spent, by the midterm deadline specified in the award letter (normally 6 months of receiving the award).
• Submit a final written report to the AAG Education Committee, prepared for publication in EXPLORE, describing the advances, results, discoveries and impacts of the research, by the final deadline specified in the award letter.
• Acknowledge AAG support in any resulting publications or presentations.
• The award letter will specify the midterm and final reporting deadlines and the required format of the final report, taking account of the funded project period.

7. Timeline (proposed, subject to Council approval)

Milestone	Target Date
Application opens	January 1, each year
Application deadline	Last day of February each year
Committee review and selection	April 15 each year
Notification of recipients	Last day of April each year
Initial grant payment	Following confirmation of the award; amount specified in the award letter
Midterm progress and expenditure report	By the midterm deadline specified in the award letter
Final report prepared for publication in EXPLORE	By the final deadline specified in the award letter
Final grant payment	Upon receipt of the final report by the AAG Education Committee

8. Governance

This program and its annual budget require formal approval by AAG Council. The AAG Treasurer will confirm the annual budget allocation, and the Education Committee will administer the review and selection process. Guidelines may be reviewed and updated annually by the Education Committee.

Prepared by AAG Education Committee