5 January 2026—The Society stands ready to award nearly 50 percent more grants to members this year than it distributed to deserving recipients in 2025. This significant expansion has been made possible by the record-breaking gift from the estate of Clarence Allen, the Society’s 41st president.
When Allen’s $1.6 million donation arrived at SSA headquarters in 2021, it was placed in a special fund. During the past four years, the addition of annual surpluses and General Fund donations helped the fund grow to more than $3 million, the target set by the Board of Directors. That growth has enabled SSA to start 2026 with a new stable funding source for its grants that support members’ efforts to advance seismology worldwide.
“We are deeply thankful to the Allen estate and generous SSA member donors who made this increase in grant opportunities possible,” said SSA President Susan Bilek. “It is inspiring to meet the students and early-career members, truly the future of our seismology field, as they present their exciting science and network at conferences. I’m thrilled that SSA grants help make that possible.”
The Society offers a range of competitive grants that help members pursue research, collaboration and travel opportunities that advance seismology. Three of these grant programs will open for applications from the SSA community next month.
Members are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities—one of the many benefits of their SSA membership.
February Grant Opportunities:
- Global Travel Grants offers early-career and student members financial support to attend and present their research at scientific conferences and workshops anywhere in the world. The February application period covers travel from May through October.
- Paul Andrew Spudich Travel Grants support travel for student and early-career members who have a research focus on earthquake source physics or ground motion prediction.
- Community Grants are offered to any member seeking a helping hand to create a small scientific conference, workshops or other seismology-advancing event.
For more details on grant eligibility/application requirements, visit the SSA grants page here.
Questions? Email ssagrants@seismosoc.org