Priya Talreja takes Aggie pride global as the first-ever UC Davis alum to receive the highly competitive and prestigious Fulbright-National Geographic Award. The Fremont, California native is among five recipients nationwide selected to launch global projects that combine research, storytelling and cultural exchange to address urgent issues facing the planet. 

Talreja, who graduated from UC Davis in 2023 with a degree in environmental policy analysis and planning, will travel to Portugal’s Azores this fall and work with the regional government to advance electric vehicle charging infrastructure through the use of geospatial planning tools. The Fulbright-National Geographic Award provides Explorer Talreja with $20,000 of additional funding to expand on her original Fulbright proposed plan.

“UC Davis students pursue awards for many reasons — to study language, conduct research, teach or prepare for graduate programs,” said Scott Palmer, UC Davis prestigious scholarships advisor. “Priya’s award stands out for its focus on advancing clean energy efforts through the promotion of electric vehicle infrastructure in the Azores. It is a topic of immense concern in a region that is under-explored by our students.”

Fulbright expanded through story

The Fulbright–National Geographic Award, launched in 2013, adds a new dimension to the traditional Fulbright experience. Designed to amplify research the program supports projects that align with the National Geographic Society’s six focus areas: human histories and cultures, land, ocean, planetary health, space and wildlife.

Recipients receive $20,000 in additional funding to build upon their Fulbright projects and some participants like Talreja must produce a media component to present their findings, such as an article, video or photo essay, within six months of their projects’ completion.

Talreja said this added support allows her to enrich her project in ways that help create lasting impact within the community in which she’ll reside. 

“With the additional monetary support, I can expand my project to include public education workshops and participatory mapping sessions that equip the community with the tools and knowledge to meaningfully participate in local planning decisions,” Talreja said.

Grantees also join a global community of Explorers — scientists, educators, storytellers and conservationists — and gain access to communication resources such as mentorship, media training and professional technology to share their work with the world.

Beyond the added funding, Talreja pointed to the Explorer network as a powerful resource to aid her work.

“National Geographic also gives us platforms to share our work, from virtual learning sessions to opportunities in their magazine and blogs,” Talreja said. “It’s a chance to amplify my project and reach audiences far beyond the Azores.”

Lessons worth sharing

Talreja said the award is about more than research, it allows her to use her skills to tackle one of the world’s most pressing challenges. She sees clean transportation as central to both human health and the planet’s future and views the Azores as a place where solutions can take root. Its size, strong renewable energy use and government support for electric vehicles, presents the Azores as a favorable testing ground for electric vehicle policy that could inspire change elsewhere.

“The transportation sector is the largest source of emissions, and it’s really important that we work to reduce air pollution from traditional gasoline vehicles,” Talreja said. “We need to transition faster than we are now.”

She also believes research must reach beyond academic audiences to make real change — a goal at the heart of the Fulbright-National Geographic Award.

“Science isn’t meant to exist in a vacuum,” Talreja said. “When something works well in one place, it can inform strategies for other global communities.”