National Geographic: Artificial Intelligence for Species Discovery
National Geographic seeks to support the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to help transform the discovery of new species by collecting and analyzing more precise data, producing faster and more meaningful insights, and accelerating promising solutions. The Artificial Intelligence for Species Discovery initiative will support the exploration of how AI can help people discover, identify, and classify new species. The initiative will support projects that accelerate discovery, monitoring, and modeling, and ultimately improve the management of Earth’s biodiversity for a more sustainable future.
Grants will support the creation and deployment of open source trained models, algorithms, and datasets to support species discovery. Applicants are encouraged to consider aligning with a research group to address a biodiversity question to strengthen their application. For example, pair an expert capable of creating and deploying an open source trained model or algorithm with a research specialist using this model or algorithm to address a pressing biodiversity question. Proposals for work in any biome are encouraged.
Proposed work should create generalizable, scalable tools that use AI to support species discovery. Priority will be given to projects that do one or more of the following:
- Use AI to address challenges in filling biodiversity data gaps
- Generate data and develop open-source technologies that contribute to scientific inquiry and advance knowledge of the planet’s biodiversity
- Use AI and machine learning to capitalize on the information potential of massive and complex datasets
All models supported through this grant must be open source, and grant recipients must be willing to (1) publicly share their models for use by other environmental researchers, and (2) share the underlying data with the National Geographic Society.
Amount: Grants range from $5,000-$100,000.
Eligibility: Individuals who are at least 18 years old. Organizations can also apply for grants, but the person within the organization who will lead the project—not the institution—should be the applicant. Individuals who are not associated with any institution can apply but need to convey that they have access to the equipment, infrastructure, or facilities needed to complete the project appropriately.
This post was filed under: