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Supporting Student Projects Focused on Sustainability

The Albert, Norma and Howard Geller ’77 Endowed Research Awards support student-initiated research projects that advance our understanding of natural resource and environmental sustainability and develop practical improvements that can move society toward more sustainable outcomes.

Clark University undergraduate and graduate students are eligible, and are reviewed in separate competitions.

Given the intent of the Geller Awards, proposals are evaluated on the following criteria:

  • Relevance to practical approaches of advancing sustainability
  • Originality and innovation
  • Clarity and feasibility of research plan
  • Ways in which the project will contribute to linking knowledge to action
  • Potential for the award to enable a project that may not be possible without it
  • Evidence of meaningful interactions with a faculty mentor for the project and/or linkages to ongoing research (but not at the expense of originality and independence)
  • Cost-effectiveness (i.e., whether the budget is reasonable)
  • A scope of work commensurate with the academic standing of the student (i.e., we expect that applications from graduate students will reflect a greater degree of academic experience and professionalism, compared to applications from undergraduate students).

An interdepartmental faculty committee that shares Howard Geller’s interests in student research and activism for sustainability will select successful proposals. Subject to the number and quality of applications received, it is the intention of the committee to award one-half of both regular and small awards to undergraduate projects. We anticipate making approximately 3-4 regular awards in amounts ranging from $1,001 to $2,500, and several smaller grants, up to $1,000, each year. Requests for more than $2,500 will not be considered.

2025 Award Competition

The 2025 award competition is now closed. Click here for more details.

2025 Geller Award Recipients

2024 Geller Award Recipients

2023 Geller Award Recipients

2022 Geller Award Recipients

2021 Geller Award Recipients

2020 Geller Award Recipients

2019 Geller Award Recipients

2018 Geller Award Recipients

2017 Geller Award Recipients

2016 Geller Award Recipients

About the Gellers

The Albert, Norma and Howard Geller ’77 Endowed Student Research Awards were established by the family of Dr. Howard Geller.

Howard Geller graduated from Clark in 1977 with degrees in physics and science, technology and society (now environmental science and policy). After Clark, he earned graduate degrees at Princeton and the University of Sao Paolo and became the first executive director of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). After 20 years of accomplishments at ACEEE, including contributions to the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 and the Energy Policy Act of 1992, he left ACEEE to found and direct the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) in 2001.

Remembering his own experience as an activist student researcher at Clark, Howard Geller hopes these annual awards will support other Clark students as they combine research with action that moves society toward sustainability.

Contact Information

George Perkins Marsh Institute

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