THE AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION (AGU) IS A NONPROFIT EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE SOCIETY LOCATED IN WASHINGTON D.C. THE ORGANIZATION ADMINISTERS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS FUNDED BY FEDERAL AGENCIES. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE VARIOUS RESEARCH AND CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAMS AS WELL AS TRAVEL GRANTS TO SUPPORT SCIENTISTS PARTICIPATING IN MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES. AGU IS HONORED TO PRESENT THE FOLLOWING GRANT PROPOSAL FOR CONSIDERATION BY NASA FOR A VISUALLY BASED STORYTELLING COMPETITION. THE COMPETITION IS FOR EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE STUDENTS TO DEMONSTRATE CREATIVE WAYS TO USE VISUALIZATION TO PRESENT COMPLEX PROBLEMS . THE EFFORT CONTINUES AND EXPANDS THE WORK OF THE 2016 NAS A-FUNDED DATA VISUALIZATION AND STORYTELLING COMPETITION (GRANT NNX16AL05G). VISUAL STORYTELLING CAN BE USED TO QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY TELL A S TORY ABOUT DATA AND THE POTENTIAL OF DATA AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. POWERFUL VISUALS OFTEN EVOKE EMOTION DRIVING A DEEPER LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DATA AND SUBJECT MATTER BEING PRESENTED. THIS CONTEST IS FOCUSED ON CREATIVITY AND PRESENTING DATA IN NEW WAYS. THE COMPETITION WILL ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING GOALS : ENHANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE STUDENTS HIGHLIGHT THE ABILITIES OF EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE STUDENTS TO USE VISUALIZATION TO PRESENT COMPLEX ISSUES SOLUTIONS AND PHENOMENA ELEVATE THE VALUE OF VISUALIZATION IN SCIENTIFIC STORYTELLING. THE DATA VISUALIZATION AND STORYTELLING COMPETITION IS OPEN TO STUDENTS IN THE EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCES WHO ARE LEGAL U.S . RESIDENTS AND ENROLLED FULL-TIME IN EITHER 2- OR 4-YEAR UNDERGRADUATE OR GRADUATE INSTITUTIONS . THE CONTEST WILL BE OPEN TO BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND TEAMS (UP TO THREE PEOPLE ON A TEAM). THE COMPETITION WINNERS WILL RECEIVE TRAVEL GRANTS FUNDED BY NASA COMPLIMENTARY REGISTRATION AT THE AG U F ALL MEETING AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR VISUALLY BASED S TORY ON THE NASA HYPERWALL DURING THE MEETING.