The mission of the funder, named in honor of the late John E. Sanders, is to support student research in the fields of coastal or environmental geology. Sanders, a sedimentologist and environmentalist, believed in the application of geologic principles to address environmental problems. His legacy continues through this fund aimed at advancing understanding in these critical areas of geology.
The grant program supports research, scientific meetings, and educational activities to promote research and knowledge dissemination within sedimentary geology. SEPM, representing sedimentary geoscientists, aims to advance and share the sciences of paleontology, sedimentology, and stratigraphy. It emphasizes the importance of communicating science, supporting education, and fostering the next generation of geoscientists. The SEPM Student Research Grants Program particularly focuses on engaging young geoscientists, providing them with early career research and fellowship opportunities to prepare a workforce-ready, professionally trained generation.