GCAGS Student Grant Program

Application Forms (posted at bottom of page)

2009 Student Research Grant Recipients

Program Description

The Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies is sponsoring a program of financial aid for worthy college and university geoscience students pursuing research in the Gulf Coast region. Research projects concerning any of the following fields of study related to the Gulf Coast region are eligible to be considered for grants: geology, geophysics, energy and mineral resources, geohydrology, environmental geology, and paleontology. Also eligible are general geoscience topics with direct, well-explained application to the Gulf Coast region. Research projects that qualify for consideration include graduate level thesis or dissertation projects for the Master’s or Doctoral degrees or special studies of undergraduates under the direct supervision of a faculty member.

Procedure for Applicants

The applicant must submit a proposal outlining the research project, confined to two pages typewritten in English and accompanied by an estimate of the expenses for which financial aid is requested. Requests for support should not exceed $2,000, although the itemized budget for the research project may indicate a greater expenditure. Each proposal should clearly describe how the research project relates to an aspect of the geology of the Gulf Coast region. Also required is a letter of endorsement from the project supervisor. This letter should provide documentation of the qualifications of the student requesting project support, as well as a realistic timetable including the estimated date of completion of the project.   Applications for consideration are accepted from October 1 (current calender year) through February 28 of the next calendar year. All application documents are to be submitted to Danny W. Harrelson, Chairman of the GCAGS Student Grant Committee. Materials must be received no later than February 28.

Procedure for Review of Project Proposals

After the submittal deadline of February 28, the GCAGS Student Grant Committee will review the proposals. Applicants will be informed of the committee decisions following approval by the GCAGS Board of Directors at its spring meeting. Award decisions will be based on the proposal's originality, application of geologic principles, presentation, and relevance to the geology of the Gulf Coast region; the qualifications of the applicant; and funds available to the GCAGS for this program. The committee will consider partial funding of proposals when availability of funds requires this consideration.

Awardee Responsibilities / Publication / Presentation

Students receiving support must submit to the Student Grant Committee Chairman a one-page progress report on the funded research within one year after receiving the grant.  Grant awardees are also strongly urged to submit their research results to the GCAGS for consideration for presentation at the Annual Convention and publication in the GCAGS Transactions. The abstract should be sent to the GCAGS Convention Program Chairman for review and consideration (as defined by the guidelines and deadlines for each Convention) within one year following completion of the degree for which the funded research was conducted. Papers submitted by grant awardees will follow the same review as other papers processed for the technical sessions. A submission does not obligate the GCAGS to accept the paper for presentation at the Annual Convention or for publication in the GCAGS Transactions.   Any research grant awardee that has a paper accepted for a GCAGS technical session will also be eligible for a Student Travel & Presentation Grant, the application form and instructions for which will be provided at the time of the research grant award.  The Travel & Presentation Grant program is in effect for awardees in 1999 and later years.

Submit all application materials in hard copy by February 28 to:

Send applications with proposals in hard copy to:

E-Mail GCAGS

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