Rolex Explorers Club Grant
Offered by The Explorers Club and Rolex
About this scholarship
The Rolex Explorers Club Grant provides $10,000 for a young explorer to conduct fieldwork that addresses an original scientific, environmental, or historical question. The worldwide competition is open across disciplines, but the proposed work must have a clear scientific rationale, be genuinely original, and offer the potential for significant impact or new understanding. The Explorers Club’s grant guidance defines field science as an expedition that collects data to advance scholarship or disciplinary knowledge, ideally toward peer-reviewed publication. Relevant areas include anthropology, archaeology, wildlife, botany, earth science, marine and freshwater research, ecology, geography, and paleontology, though other rigorous disciplines may qualify. The central eligibility guidance describes this grant as focused on explorers under age 35. Applicants should distinguish a research expedition from an adventure or travel project and explain why the question, place, methods, and data are important. The live application is embedded on the official program page and requires a complete proposal, project plan, budget, applicant qualifications, and two written recommendations. Competitive applications demonstrate feasibility, preparation, a strong connection between the methods and research question, responsible field practices, and a clear route to meaningful results. The 2027 field-season competition is open now. Applicants must submit the complete online form and supporting materials by September 14, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.
Eligibility
- Be a young explorer under age 35 under the Explorers Club’s current grant guidance
- May propose fieldwork in any appropriate discipline and any country
- Address a novel scientific, environmental, or historical question
- Present original work with a clear scientific rationale
- Show potential for significant impact or new understanding
- Describe the field location, methods, timeline, budget, and expected results
- Plan responsible data collection that adds to scholarship or disciplinary knowledge
- Provide two written recommendations
- Submit the embedded application by September 14, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern