The Philip M. Smith Graduate Research Grant for Cave and Karst Research

Beginning in 2015, the Cave Research Foundation named the graduate research grant program in honor of Philip M. Smith, CRF’s founding president (1957-1965). Philip Meek Smith (1932-2014), a native of Springfield, Ohio, and graduate of Ohio State University with degrees in geology and science education, was a national and international leader in science, technology, and public policy for five decades. He is best known for his work on polar research programs with the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, and the National Science Foundation, and served three U.S. presidents – Nixon, Ford, and Carter – on issues of science policy. From the 1950s through the 1960s, Smith was deeply involved in caving, helping to found the Central Ohio Grotto of the National Speleological Society and taking part in the NSS C3 expedition in Floyd Collins Crystal Cave, Kentucky.

In the early 1950s, there were few American scientists pursuing cave-related research, but advances in exploration like the C3 expedition showed immense potential for sustained exploration and study. CRF was formed to help provide this support, largely modeled on similar organizational support for the International Geophysical Year, in which Smith was then deeply involved. From its inception, CRF has always placed importance on multidisciplinary, integrated research.

Inspired by Phil Smith’s lifelong support for science and his early influence on the organization of CRF, the graduate research grant program is dedicated in his memory.

Each academic year, CRF accepts proposals for graduate student research in cave and karst studies leading to either a master’s or doctoral degree. Proposals may be in any field of the earth, natural, or social sciences as long as the research addresses topics related to caves or karst. The award ceiling is determined annually by the CRF Board of Directors; however, typically, four to six grants are awarded annually, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 each. Students must be enrolled in a degree-granting institution and preference is given to research directly related to the student’s thesis or dissertation project. Competition is open to U.S. and international institutions, but application materials must be in English.