RESEARCH GRANTS

The American Alpine Club (AAC) Research Grants have supported scientific endeavors in mountains and crags around the world. We fund projects that enrich our understanding of the ecosystems and landscapes that are a part of the climbing experience, contribute vital knowledge to the management of climbing environments, and improve the health and sustainability of the climbing community.

AWARDS

Research Grant awards range from $500 to $1,500. Award amounts will vary based on project and budget.

APPLICATION PERIOD

The application period for the Research Grant begins March 1. Applications must be submitted via the online application no later than 11:59 p.m. MST on April 30th.

Recipients are notified after the selection committee has made their final award choices by mid June.

Applications Closed

CRITERIA / GUIDELINES

Projects should focus on the social and economic influences on climbing, mountain environments and alpine pursuits.

Research that fits within one of the following focal areas will receive priority by the selection committee:

Focal Area 1: Climate Change

Climate change poses many threats to climbing landscapes and communities across the globe. Increased wildfire prevalence, warmer annual temperatures, shorter winter seasons, and drought are all symptoms of a warming climate and all pose a threat to climbing. The AAC is committed to addressing the threat of climate change and seeks research that quantifies the impacts of a changing climate on climbing landscapes and communities, and further outlines policy guidance for climate mitigation and/or adaptation. Research that explores how distinct climbing areas or communities, such as mountain towns or guide agencies (for example) will be impacted by a changing climate will receive additional priority.

Focal area 2: Public land management

Containing 60% of our nations’ climbing areas, our public lands are key to the American climbing experience. However, threats to our public lands such as unchecked resource extraction, infrastructure development, and the erosion of fundamental environmental laws and policies are on the rise. Additionally, with climbing gyms across the country limiting access due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more climbers than ever are flocking to the outdoors. Increased participation rates in outdoor climbing, while generally a good thing, is leading to resource management challenges across the country. With the compounding stress placed on our public lands the AAC seeks research which provides guidance on correcting one of the major issues facing our public lands today. Research should draw from one or multiple case studies and provide policy or management level guidance on how to address the issue of concern.

In addition to these focal points, applications are considered in terms of their scientific or technical quality and merit:

Qualifications of the applicant
Strength of the research framework
Dissemination plans
Merit of the investigation

Entire proposal should not exceed 7 pages total and include:

3-5 pages for the body of the proposal (including graphics, citations, and plans for disseminating results)

2-page resume that includes academic degrees, and other pertinent biographical material
Budget overview
Grant amount requested ($500-$1,500)

Prior recipients of this grant must attach a copy of their final summary report to the AAC and copies of any resulting publications.

You will have the option to include attachments that will give the committee a better understanding of your proposal, but we ask that you keep them concise due to the number of proposals we receive.

RECIPIENT RESPONSIBILIITES

When you know your final travel dates, please let the AAC grants manager know. We understand travel dates can change, please alert the AAC when you return.
If for any reason the project is canceled or significantly changed, awarded funds must be returned to the AAC in full. If, after a grant is awarded, additional funding is obtained and the grant funds are no longer needed, or if an expedition is “over funded,” the recipient is asked to return all surplus funds to the AAC.
Within two months of returning, all grant recipients will be required to submit a written trip report which must include photos and/or videos of the expedition. Any photos/videos submitted with the trip report remain property of the grantees, but the AAC may reproduce submitted photos/videos in any manner for marketing or promotional purposes. Failure to submit a report will result in applicant being ineligible for future AAC grants.
Include an acknowledgment of support by the AAC in all publications or presentations related to the supported research.

Grant recipients agree to act as American Alpine Club Researchers. The role of a Researcher is to mention your AAC support at slide shows and events when speaking about the expedition; you may be asked to give a presentation on the expedition at the AAC’s annual meeting or other events; and you express a commitment to the AAC’s mission.