Human-Environment and Geographical Sciences Program
Supporting basic scientific research on human-environment interactions and geographical processes, HEGS Program seeks methodologically rigorous proposals contributing to fundamental geographical theory with broader societal impacts.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: February 3, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | January 16, 2026 | March 4, 2026 | August 7, 2026 | January 15, 2027
Funding Amounts: ~$7,000,000 total annually; typical awards $100,000–$500,000 (senior research); CAREER: $400,000–$450,000; RCN: up to $350,000; Conference: up to $50,000; TREES: $200,000–$250,000/year
Summary: Supports rigorous, theory-advancing research on the spatial dimensions of human-environment interactions and geographical processes.
Key Information: No restrictions on number of submissions per PI or organization; no cost sharing required.
Description
The Human-Environment and Geographical Sciences (HEGS) Program supports fundamental research on the spatial dimensions of human behaviors and their interactions with environmental and social processes. The program welcomes proposals that are empirically grounded, theoretically engaged, and methodologically rigorous, aiming to advance geographical and geospatial sciences. Research may use quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods, but must contribute to theory-testing or theory-expanding work in the field. Projects should be generalizable and reproducible, with clear plans for data collection, analysis, and bias mitigation. Proposals must demonstrate broader impacts that benefit society.
HEGS funds a range of project types, including senior research, early-career (CAREER), research coordination networks (RCN), conferences, and transdisciplinary research in environmental social science (TREES). The program is situated within NSF's Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences and is committed to broadening participation in STEM.
