About Us

Earthwatch Institute was founded in 1971 in Boston, Massachusetts. A need to invent a new funding model for scientific research became apparent, as dwindling government funding was combined with an increased urgency in the need for scientific information and action. Earthwatch started with just 4 hand-picked scientists from the Smithsonian Institute, and 39 volunteers working on these 4 teams. Last year, over 3,500 volunteers have worked on Earthwatch projects, which have grown to 140 projects in over 50 countries around the world.