Research scientists, political decision makers, leading corporations and the voting public are engaged in a three-year effort to raise and invest $20 million on research and outreach activities aimed to promote Earth sciences. Ninety-seven countries representing 87 percent of the world’s population back the United Nations initiative.

Expressions of interest from individuals, researchers and organizations are now welcome. Winning proposals will target one of 10 areas. For example, they may show how to reduce risk from natural and human-induced hazards, reduce health problems, uncover poorly accessed groundwater, discover renewable resources, build safer structures and expand urban areas, determine the natural factor in climatic change or raise interest in Earth sciences.

Source:  Wikipedia, 2008