Fixed-Term Working Groups

Guidelines

Funds of £250 per year for three years are available for non-postgraduate members of BSG wishing to establish fixed-term working groups to discuss and take forward specific developments or topic areas within geomorphology. These will normally be areas in which rapid developments are taking place or in which key issues are arising which would be aided by increased communication between a small community of interested researchers. Working Groups will normally comprise 5-15 members but meetings will be advertised and open to all members. The BSG will provide funds to facilitate meetings and aid dissemination and publication of group research activity, and will fund up to 3 fixed-term groups at any one time, normally approving no more than one new group per year. Procedures for application are set out below.

Forms

• Microsoft Word Format
• Adobe Acrobat Format

Application and Monitoring Procedures for BSG Fixed-Term Working Groups

1. BSG Working Groups normally have a 3 year funded life beginning at the AGM after application and approval.
   
2. The deadline for receipt of applications is 1 November.
   
3. Applicants should submit 5 copies of the application form and supporting case, which should be no more than 4 sides of A4 in 12 point font and include an outline rationale for establishing the Working Group (including timeliness), the aims and objectives of the Group, details of Working Group members, expected outcomes and the strategy for data/product sharing.
   
4. Applications should be sent to: BSG Administrative Assistant, RGS-IBG, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR.
   
5. On the first working day after the deadline a copy of all complete applications will be forwarded to each of the members of the Research Sub-Committee and to the Honorary Secretary.
   
6. If Research Sub-Committee members require more information, the Chair of the Research Sub-Committee will request the information from the lead applicant within 3 weeks of the deadline. Any such information must be provided within 6 weeks of the original deadline. Within 12 weeks of the deadline the Chair will notify the Honorary Secretary of the Research Sub-Committee's recommendations.
   
7. The Executive Committee will consider the Research Sub-Committee's recommendations at the May (second) EC meeting and the Honorary Secretary will write to each applicant with the result of their submission within 1 week of the May EC meeting. The title of the new BSG Working Group will be announced at the next AGM.
   
8. Once the Working Group has been approved at the May EC meeting, the lead applicant may write to the Honorary Treasurer requesting the first year's funds in readiness for the initiation of working group activity following the next AGM.
   
9. The lead applicant is required to submit an annual report, outlining scientific activity and the expenditure of BSG funds, in hard copy to the address in para. 4 and in electronic form to bsg@rgs.org. This must be submitted at least one month prior to the AGM.
   
10. Reports will be forwarded to members of the Research Sub-Committee and the Honorary Secretary, and will be considered by the EC at the pre-AGM EC meeting. If the report is approved, the Honorary Secretary will forward it to the Geophemera editor and BSG webmaster for publication. If the reports are deemed unsatisfactory, the BSG Chair will write to the author with comments. Approval of the report is a pre-requisite for release of funds for the following year.
    
11. The Report of the Chair of the Research Sub-Committee to the AGM will include an overview of the success of BSG-sponsored working groups.
    
12. In the final year of the life of the working group, it is expected that the working group will organise a session or module at a BSG-sponsored conference, and publication in Earth Surface Processes and Landforms is encouraged.