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Educational/technical resources createdEvents held (in-person or virtual)People formally or informally educated, trained, or mentoredMedia/communications/storytelling outputsHectares of landscape (including freshwater areas) benefiting from a conservation or sustainability interventionPeer-reviewed academic publicationsPresentations at academic conferencesSpecies studiedPaleontological, paleoanthropological, historical, cultural, archaeological, or geologic sites, features, or processes studied and/or preserved
Series 1 (Eye of the Sahara): 12 episodes exploring geology, archaeology, paleoclimatology, and the Atlantis hypothesisSeries 2 (Sustainable Design): 8-10 episodes documenting living architecture and permacultural systemsInteractive platform with structured debates, questionnaires, 3D model exploration, and community discussionCurriculum materials for schools (K-12 and university level)2026 expedition to Eye of the Sahara with expanded scientific teamFurther online 3D interactive models of structuresA completed willowdome structure converted into educational spacesDocumented case studies of sustainable design integrated into Series 2Self-sustaining funding model through donations, expeditions, and school partnershipsPublished research papers from expedition findingsProfessional framework documenting interactive documentary methodologyAnnual expeditions generating new research and contentTeacher training program certifying educators in interactive science pedagogyPolitical/Security Challenges in MauritaniaFunding Shortfalls or Delayed PaymentsTechnical Challenges with Interactive PlatformContent Quality or Scientific CredibilityAudience Engagement or ViewershipWillowdome Structural or Environmental ChallengesLocal Community Resistance or MisalignmentShifting Public Interest or Media LandscapeDonations through the interactive documentary websiteAnnual expeditions to the Eye of the Sahara open to paying participantsEducational partnerships licensing content and accessing teacher training programs
Community outreach in Mauritania to ensure local partnership and cultural sensitivityDigital and written publications (articles, social media, blogs) to generate public interestEducational integration through school partnerships, curriculum development, and teacher trainingVisual storytelling (photography, video) to enhance the documentary seriesSpeaking engagements and presentations at relevant conferences and eventsMedia engagement through National Geographic's extensive channels and networksLocal Mauritanian communities: Involve in expedition planning, share preliminary results, support local education initiativesInternational researchers and scientists: Collaborate on expedition, publish findings, present at conferencesEducators and students: Integrate documentary content into curricula, provide teacher training, host field study opportunitiesGeneral public: Distribute documentary series through multiple platforms, promote interactive engagementParticipate in professional development and networking eventsServe as a subject matter expert for initiatives related to science communication, sustainability, and interactive mediaCollaborate with other Explorers on team-based projectsAct as a global ambassador for National Geographic's mission and values
Name of additional funding source: Trace.MarketFunder category: Private companySupport received: Co-funding for supply chain transparency research and platform developmentAmount received: $150,000
Title of Project: Decoding the Eye of the Sahara: Ancient Wisdom for Sustainable FuturesProject Start Date: September 1, 2026Project End Date: August 31, 2027Primary Fieldwork Location: Mauritania (Richat Structure/Eye of the Sahara)Primary Fieldwork Location Start Date: January 1, 2027Fieldwork End Date: January 31, 2027Fieldwork Location Country or Area #2: Hungary (and the trans-European route)Fieldwork Location 2 Start Date: September 1, 2026Allow
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GERGELY ÁRON DZSIDA
Filmmaker & Sustainability Activist
Hegyalja út 77., 1124 Budapest | +36204436262
Born: 12 May 1997
Project Information
Title of Project: Looking into Eye of the Sahara
Project Start Date: January 2024
Primary Fieldwork Location Country or Area: Mauritania
Primary Fieldwork Location Start Date: January 2026
Fieldwork End Date: March 2026
Project End Date: December 2025
The primary focus area for your project is: Human Histories & Cultures
The secondary focus area of your project (if applicable) is: Planetary Health
The primary discipline for your project is: Storytelling
The secondary discipline of your project (if applicable) is: Science
Expected Project Outcomes:
Project Leader Information
Project Leader Name: Gergely Áron Dzsida
Salutation: Mr.
How did you learn about the specific grant opportunity?
NGS staff communication from email, phone, in-person
Date of Birth: 1997.05.12.
Current Position or Job Title: Member and cooperating with multiple NGOs
Institution/Organization: Mély Mosoly Alapítvány
Education Level: Undergraduate academic degree (Bachelor of Science)
Skills & Experience:
Gergely Áron Dzsida has extensive experience in documentary production, expedition planning, and sustainability initiatives. He led a successful research expedition to the Eye of the Sahara in Mauritania in 2021, generating footage and data that forms the foundation for this project. Dzsida has a strong technical background in interactive media and a proven track record of managing complex, interdisciplinary projects. His unique perspective, combining scientific expertise with creative storytelling, makes him ideally suited to lead this innovative documentary series.
Country or Area of Primary Citizenship: Hungary
Project Details
Brief Project Summary:
What if the legendary lost city of Atlantis could teach us something real about building sustainable futures? The Eye of the Sahara—a mysterious circular rock formation in Mauritania—has sparked public fascination and speculation for years. Rather than dismiss this curiosity, we're channeling it into rigorous scientific investigation.
Our project creates two interactive documentary series. The first explores the Eye of the Sahara through real science: geology, archaeology, and paleoclimatology. We ask the questions people want answered—Could this be connected to the Atlantis legend? What do ancient civilizations tell us about environmental change?—but we show the actual evidence and let audiences think through the science themselves using interactive debates and 3D models. The second series demonstrates sustainable solutions by showcasing buildings made from living plants that grow over time.
Background:
Alternative history content about the Atlantis legend and mysterious geological formations has exploded across social media and streaming platforms, reflecting genuine human curiosity about our past. However, most lacks scientific rigor—sources are unclear, speculation presented as fact, and audiences lack tools to think critically. Meanwhile, mainstream research remains inaccessible to general audiences. This gap is urgent: scientific literacy now depends on populations that can distinguish evidence from speculation, yet trust in traditional science communication has eroded. The Eye of the Sahara attracts global interest —this worldwide curiosity creates an exceptional teaching opportunity.
Our project fills this gap by combining academic rigor with engaging storytelling through interactive documentaries that make scientific thinking visible. Rather than presenting conclusions, audiences encounter structured debates between scientists, explore 3D models, and engage questionnaires that teach critical thinking experientially. We maintain rigorous standards (peer-reviewed methods, transparent evidence, expert collaboration) while remaining genuinely accessible. This project is part of "Together Projects"—a comprehensive sustainability education initiative connecting historical understanding to future-building. By investigating how past civilizations responded to environmental change and what the Atlantis story teaches about unsustainable practices, we help audiences understand why this ancient mystery matters to contemporary sustainability crises. The second documentary series on sustainable design demonstrates practical applications. National Geographic has not yet addressed how to responsibly engage public curiosity about speculative topics while maintaining scientific integrity—this project demonstrates that new model.
Goals, and Objectives:
Goal 1: Produce Two Professionally-Completed Interactive Documentary Series
Goal 2: Complete Educational Infrastructure
Goal 3: Establish Sustainable Model for Ongoing Research and Education
Activities or Methods:
The project will unfold in four phases:
Phase 1 (Months 1-3): Documentary production planning, interactive platform architecture development, partnership establishment.
Phase 2 (Months 4-12): Production of 12 episodes for Series 1 (Eye of the Sahara) and 8-10 episodes for Series 2 (Sustainable Design), with embedded interactive features. Launch of interactive platform.
Phase 3 (Months 6-18): Completion of willowdome educational installations, 2026 expedition to Eye of the Sahara, establishment of 50+ school partnerships.
Phase 4 (Months 13-24): Full public launch of documentary series, activation of sustainability mechanisms (donations, expeditions, school partnerships), ongoing evaluation and iteration.
Risks:
Sustained Impact:
This project is designed for long-term sustainability beyond the NGS grant period, with three revenue streams:
We will establish a legal entity to manage the project, with a scientific advisory board and formalized local Mauritanian partnerships. The documentary content, interactive platform, 3D models, and willowdome structures are all designed as self-sustaining assets.
Outreach and Engagement
Communication, Engagement, and Distribution Plan:
Our outreach and engagement plan includes:
Engagement Plan:
We will directly engage the following key stakeholders:
Explorer Network:
As a National Geographic Explorer, I would greatly benefit from the interdisciplinary expertise and global network. I would actively engage with the Explorer community in the following ways:
Project Members
Kristof Kaltenecker - Owner and Head of Content, Nova Produkcios Iroda Kft.
Kristof is an award-winning cinematographer with extensive experience in documentary production. He has led teams to create meaningful content for international brands and will be responsible for the high-quality video production of the documentary series.
Budget Details
Film Production Costs: $350,000
Interactive Platform Development: $150,000
Expedition: $175,000
Willowdome Completion: $100,000
Overhead: $225,000
Total Amount Requested from NGS: $1,000,000
Additional Funding Support:
Ethical Certification
By submitting this application, I represent that I am in compliance with the ethical standards and codes of practice for my discipline, and specifically the requirements for projects relating to human or animal subjects. I further agree that I practice the National Geographic Society's internal values including honesty, fairness, and transparency. Lastly, I agree that the National Geographic Society may share details about the project at the time of award.
National Geographic Society Grant Application: Definitive Version
Project Information
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