The Earthquake Commission (EQC) is funding research that aims to explore natural-hazards risk and resilience.

The project, Aotearoa New Zealand Science Journalism Fund, has led to major articles on everything from big-data privacy issues to climate change. Now, through the 2019 EQC award, it will provide journalists with the opportunity to spend time investigating science-related issues.

Journalists will be asked to pitch their story ideas on EQC’s key resilience goals, which are stronger homes on better land, connected by infrastructure that can withstand disaster, as well as access to insurance.

“Our aim is for communities to understand the natural-hazard risks they face, and to be able to make informed decisions on how to reduce the impacts,” EQC resilience research director Hugh Cowan said. “A lot of scientific research has been done, but it’s not always easy to understand. Journalists play vital role in translating the science and bringing it closer to communities making these decisions.”

Applications to the Aotearoa New Zealand Science Journalism Fund close Feb. 28. Grants range from $1,500 to $5,000.