Deadline: 16-Nov-2026
The Royal Geographical Society is inviting applications for the Ralph Brown Expedition Award to support experienced researchers leading expeditions in aquatic environments. The award provides up to £15,000 for projects focused on coral reefs, rivers, lakes, shallow seas, wetlands, and other aquatic settings. Eligible applicants must be Fellows or Members of the Royal Geographical Society, with no nationality restrictions.
Overview
The Ralph Brown Expedition Award supports experienced researchers who are leading field expeditions in aquatic environments.
The award was established in memory of Ralph Brown, a Californian explorer and jet boat enthusiast who made important contributions to aquatic exploration.
Since its launch in 1998, the award has supported a wide range of aquatic research projects, including wetland studies, coral reef research, and mountain river hazard surveys.
The award is managed by the Royal Geographical Society and is designed to advance scientific understanding while benefiting host countries and, where possible, local communities.
Key Focus Areas
The award supports research expeditions focused on aquatic environments and their scientific, environmental, and community value.
Key focus areas include:
- Aquatic exploration
- Coral reef research
- River systems
- Lakes and wetlands
- Shallow seas
- Mountain river hazards
- Environmental research
- Scientific expeditions
- Interdisciplinary aquatic research
- Local knowledge integration
- Benefits for host countries
- Community-focused research impact
- Environmental and social outcomes
Purpose of the Award
The purpose of the Ralph Brown Expedition Award is to support high-quality expeditions that improve knowledge of aquatic environments.
The award encourages researchers to design expeditions that produce scientific value and practical benefits for the host country.
Projects are also encouraged to engage with local communities where possible, especially when community knowledge, participation, or local environmental priorities can strengthen the research.
Award Amount
The Ralph Brown Expedition Award provides funding of up to £15,000.
The funding supports the selected expedition leader and helps cover costs linked to field-based aquatic research.
Applicants should prepare a clear and realistic budget that shows how the award will support the expedition and its research objectives.
Who is Eligible?
The award is open to experienced researchers leading expeditions in aquatic environments.
Applicants must:
- Be Fellows or Members of the Royal Geographical Society
- Lead an expedition in an aquatic environment
- Demonstrate research experience
- Propose a project with scientific merit
- Show potential benefit to the host country
- Consider benefits for local communities where possible
There are no nationality restrictions, so eligible researchers from any country may apply if they meet the Society’s membership requirement.
Suitable Research Settings
The award supports expeditions in aquatic environments.
Suitable research settings may include:
- Coral reefs
- Rivers
- Lakes
- Wetlands
- Shallow seas
- Mountain river systems
- Coastal aquatic environments
- Other freshwater or marine environments
The proposed expedition should be field-based and should clearly contribute to aquatic environmental research.
What the Award Can Support
The award can support research expeditions that combine strong scientific aims with practical value for the host region.
Suitable projects may include:
- Coral reef studies
- Wetland research
- River hazard surveys
- Lake ecosystem studies
- Shallow sea research
- Aquatic biodiversity research
- Environmental monitoring
- Field-based geographical research
- Interdisciplinary studies involving ecology, geography, hydrology, or local knowledge
- Research that supports environmental understanding or management in the host country
Explanation of Key Concepts
Aquatic Environments
Aquatic environments are ecosystems Environments
Aquatic environments are ecosystems or landscapes shaped by water.
They include rivers, lakes, wetlands, coral reefs, shallow seas, coastal systems, and other freshwater or marine settings.
Expedition-Based Research
Expedition-based research involves fieldwork carried out in a specific location, often requiring travel, planning, equipment, local coordination, and scientific data collection.
For this award, the expedition should have clear research aims and be led by an experienced researcher.
Host Country Benefit
Host country benefit means the research should provide value to the country where the expedition takes place.
This may include improved environmental knowledge, data for conservation, collaboration with local researchers, training, community engagement, or practical findings relevant to local environmental issues.
Local Knowledge Integration
Local knowledge integration means including the experience, observations, and priorities of people who live in or near the research area.
This can improve the relevance, accuracy, and social value of aquatic research.
Why It Matters
Aquatic environments are important for biodiversity, livelihoods, climate resilience, transport, food systems, and environmental stability.
Many aquatic ecosystems face pressures such as pollution, habitat loss, climate change, overuse, erosion, and natural hazards.
The Ralph Brown Expedition Award helps researchers study these environments in depth while encouraging projects that provide value beyond academic research. By supporting work that benefits host countries and local communities, the award promotes responsible and impactful exploration.
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Proposal
Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that explains the expedition, research purpose, aquatic setting, scientific value, host country benefit, and budget.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should first confirm that they are Fellows or Members of the Royal Geographical Society.
They should also ensure they have the experience needed to lead an expedition in an aquatic environment.
Step 2: Review the Grant Guidance
Applicants should carefully review the Royal Geographical Society’s grant guidance before preparing the application.
This helps ensure that the proposal meets the award’s requirements and follows the correct submission process.
Step 3: Define the Expedition Location
The proposal should clearly identify where the expedition will take place.
Applicants should explain why the selected aquatic environment is important for research and why fieldwork is needed.
Step 4: Explain the Research Question
The application should present a clear research question or objective.
The research should focus on an aquatic setting such as a coral reef, river, lake, shallow sea, wetland, or related environment.
Step 5: Demonstrate Scientific Merit
Applicants should explain how the expedition will contribute to scientific knowledge.
This may include:
- New environmental data
- Improved understanding of aquatic systems
- Risk or hazard assessment
- Biodiversity findings
- Conservation insights
- Interdisciplinary research outputs
- Practical recommendations for host regions
Step 6: Show Host Country and Community Benefit
The proposal should explain how the project will benefit the host country.
Where possible, applicants should also show how local communities may benefit or participate.
Possible benefits include:
- Knowledge sharing
- Local collaboration
- Training or capacity building
- Environmental awareness
- Community participation
- Data useful for conservation or planning
- Support for local environmental priorities
Step 7: Prepare a Realistic Budget
Applicants should prepare a budget of up to £15,000.
The budget should be reasonable, clearly explained, and directly linked to the expedition’s research activities.
Step 8: Submit the Proposal by Email
Applications must be submitted by email according to the Royal Geographical Society’s instructions.
Applicants should ensure that all required documents are complete and clearly formatted before submission.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Applying without being a Fellow or Member of the Royal Geographical Society
- Proposing research outside aquatic environments
- Submitting a weak or unclear expedition plan
- Not demonstrating scientific merit
- Failing to explain benefits for the host country
- Ignoring possible local community engagement
- Providing an unrealistic budget
- Not reviewing the Society’s grant guidance
- Submitting incomplete proposal materials
- Focusing only on travel rather than research value
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should be research-focused, practical, and impact-oriented.
Applicants should:
- Clearly describe the aquatic environment being studied.
- Show strong expedition leadership experience.
- Present a focused and achievable research question.
- Explain the scientific importance of the project.
- Demonstrate how the host country will benefit.
- Include local collaboration where possible.
- Consider how local knowledge can inform the research.
- Prepare a realistic and justified budget.
- Show how results may be shared with scientific and local audiences.
- Follow the Royal Geographical Society’s application guidance carefully.
FAQ
1. What is the Ralph Brown Expedition Award?
The Ralph Brown Expedition Award is a Royal Geographical Society grant that supports experienced researchers leading expeditions in aquatic environments.
2. How much funding is available?
The award provides up to £15,000 to support the selected expedition leader.
3. Who can apply?
Applicants must be Fellows or Members of the Royal Geographical Society. There are no nationality restrictions.
4. What types of environments are eligible?
Eligible environments include coral reefs, rivers, lakes, wetlands, shallow seas, mountain river systems, and other aquatic settings.
5. What kind of projects does the award support?
The award supports field-based research expeditions that have scientific merit and provide benefit to the host country and, where possible, local communities.
6. Can interdisciplinary projects apply?
Yes. The programme encourages interdisciplinary approaches, especially where they strengthen environmental understanding and local relevance.
7. How should applications be submitted?
Applicants should review the Royal Geographical Society’s grant guidance and submit their proposals by email according to the Society’s instructions.
Conclusion
The Ralph Brown Expedition Award provides important support for experienced researchers conducting expeditions in aquatic environments.
With funding of up to £15,000, the award helps advance scientific understanding of rivers, lakes, coral reefs, wetlands, shallow seas, and other aquatic systems. Strong applications should demonstrate expedition leadership, scientific merit, clear host country benefit, possible local community value, and a well-planned research approach.
For more information, visit Royal Geographical Society.