Commitment to Education

Saving our planet starts with understanding it.

Earthwatch volunteers work and learn alongside leading scientists in stunning natural settings, conducting real-world research on threatened and thriving species and habitats the world over. Whether you’re helping sea turtle hatchlings reach the ocean or taking permafrost core samples at the Arctic’s edge, your efforts will help researchers working to catalog and conserve wildlife in diverse ecosystems as they build the scientific case for their protection. 

See the world as a scientist.

Our mission is to empower people to save the natural world, so scientific study is at the heart of every Earthwatch expedition. Whether you’re exploring exotic ecosystems across the world or gaining a deeper understanding of nature nearer to home, as an Earthwatch volunteer, you’ll perform vital, hands-on field science under the supervision of skilled researchers.

Discover how scientists actually work in the field and add new data to important research—work that has conserved threatened species and helped to protect crucial environmental resources. Last year alone, Earthwatch volunteers—including hundreds of high school students and teachers, as well as curious solo travelers and committed corporate teams—contributed nearly 100,000 hours of research that yielded dozens of peer-reviewed publications and supported the development of key environmental policies. 

We’re especially committed to helping educators and students discover and protect our environment through scientific exploration, even in the face of financial limitations. Find out how an Earthwatch expedition can help teachers, teens, and school groups connect with nature through hands-on science and cooperative conservation, or learn how to apply for one of our student or teacher fellowships.