The Trebek Initiative

Eligibility

The Trebek Initiative funds storytellers, researchers, educators, and conservationists whose projects aim to preserve Canadian and Indigenous land, wildlife, water, culture and history. To learn more about previously funded projects, check out https://www.trebekinitiative.com/grantees.

Current National Geographic Explorers as well as those outside of the Explorer community are welcome to apply. You are not required to have previously received a grant from the National Geographic Society to apply for this opportunity. All awarded candidates will become Trebek Initiative grantees, with select recipients also becoming National Geographic Explorers.

Skills and Experience for Success

• Candidate has a record of success in their field and experience leading projects similar to the one described.

Candidate(s) Fill Gaps in Community

PLEASE NOTE: Not all awarded candidates will become National Geographic Explorers
• Candidate’s area of work, expertise, or technical skills adds something new or different to the Trebek Initiative's portfolio

Commitment to Communicating

• Candidate has a track record of engaging relevant stakeholders and audiences to translate project results to actionable impact
• Project description includes information on how results will be communicated with different audiences to facilitate impact

Potential to Engage w/ NGS+Explorers

PLEASE NOTE: Not all awarded candidates will become National Geographic Explorers
• Candidate shows strong potential to actively engage with the Trebek Initiative network. For example, they have experience presenting their work, being interviewed by the press, and/or participating in other forms of public engagement.

Project Team Skills+Experience

• Candidate describes the project team members with sufficient detail for the reviewer to understand the skills and experience that each team member will contribute for the success of the project.
• Candidate demonstrates that team members' expertise aligns appropriately with project needs, goals and methods.
• Candidate and project team demonstrate meaningful connections and relationships to stakeholder communities and a strong understanding of the local context in which their work will take place.

Summary

The Trebek Initiative is a grant-making partnership between the National Geographic Society and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS). The Trebek Initiative’s mandate is to ignite a passion to preserve across Canada. Accordingly, only projects where the impact is distinctly felt in Canada will be funded. Projects cannot exceed 70,000 USD and must overlap with at least one of the following focus areas: land (including freshwater), ocean, wildlife, and human histories & cultures.
 

Overhead

Applicants may designate up to 15% of the total budget as overhead or indirect costs.

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

RESOURCES

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST).

Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.

EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application