Applications are due by December 6, 2023. More information on how to apply, as well as tips for successful proposals, can be found on the grant webpage. 

The grants offered through the USGS National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program are provided to increase preservation and access to geoscientific collections, enhance the digital and physical infrastructure that stores and serves these collections, and modernize valuable data resources for reuse. 

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

The program is administered by the USGS and provides financial and technical assistance opportunities to state geological surveys and bureaus within the Department of the Interior that maintain geological and geophysical data and samples. 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has expanded the program’s capacity to support preservation activities of physical samples and earth science assets for future use, informing new scientific discovery, hazard mitigation, infrastructure development, critical minerals characterization, and climate resilience. 

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

The program places high value on increasing access to preserved materials. ReSciColl, the Registry of Scientific Collections (formerly the National Digital Catalog), centralizes access and management of these materials with a map and inventory list to explore these national assets. The preserved physical materials and digital data are cataloged to make them readily available for reuse in new research. Past successful projects include: 

• The Kentucky Geological Survey used grant money to augment an online database of oil and gas wells, borehole data, and imagery for the Kentucky Oil and Gas Repository, increasing access for regulators, companies, and researchers. 

• The Tennessee Geological Survey used grant money to provide digital access to historical coal mining maps and documents. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Land Reclamation Section have benefited from the increased access to the coal information they need to plan mine reclamation projects in Tennessee. 

• The Iowa Geological Survey used grant money to create the GeoCore web application for its geologic data, including information from the Mid-Continent Rift, an area of great interest for possible critical mineral resources. 

A complete list of previously funded projects can be found on the USGS National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program website. More information about how the USGS is investing funding received from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can be found on the USGS Bipartisan Infrastructure Law website.