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Why join the BSG as a Postgraduate?
Contact with a
world-wide body of geomorphologists
· There are over
800 BSG members, of which approximately
250 are postgraduates.
· Being a member enables you to meet other researchers
who are conducting research in your area.
Opportunities to attend workshops........
· Each December, there is a 3-day residential training
course at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor for first year research
postgraduates. It is a good way to meet and share ideas with postgraduates
from other universities. The course has proved to be a valuable
component to first year research training.
The workshop typically includes:
i) small group work on project planning and time management,
ii) an introduction to models in geomorphology, organisation of
fieldwork, analytical techniques, data handling and aids to research,
iii) individual project reports and discussion. It usually costs
approximately £140.00.
The BSG provides partial grants (by application) for non-NERC
students and money may be available from your department to help
reduce costs.
Details of the workshop can be found here.
….and specialised conferences
· Numerous themed conferences and discussion groups are
held each year to encourage academics and research students to
present and discuss their work. As a BSG member you are made
aware of these meetings and are invited to participate.
Groups of the past include "Uplands; Problems, Pressures
and Solutions" (Durham, April 1999) and "Weathering"
(Queens University Belfast, June 2000). There are also special
BSG sessions which are organised in conjunction with the RGS-IBG
annual conference such as "Millennium Geomorphology:
Processes and Landscape Change in the Last 1000 years" (Sussex,
Jan 2000).
….and field meetings
· Spring field meetings are a great way to gain knowledge
and experience of field interpretation and applied geomorphology
and meet up with others of a particular niche. Coastal geomorphology
was the topic in 1999 held in Dorset. Northern Ireland was the
venue last year where the focus was on peat extraction and the
influences on hydrology and water quality. There are also occasions
to travel abroad; the BSG/BSRG organised a joint field meeting
in SE Spain in September 1999 which encouraged academics and research
students from a range of backgrounds with a scientific or teaching
interest in the area.
Conferences
· Each year there is a postgraduate symposium organised
by students for students. It provides a great chance to present
a conference paper for the first time and a brilliant opportunity
to meet other postgraduates. The cost is usually very reasonable
with conference fees (including an evening meal) for approximately
£25-30 and accommodation for two days costing £20-25.
Last year's symposium was held in Glasgow. A series of papers
of various research topics were presented over several days by
postgraduates and a field trip was organised by the hosts to complete
a very successful and valuable meeting for all those involved
(report Geophemera No. 80, July 2000). Portsmouth hosted this
year's event. Election for the BSG postgraduate representatives
takes place at the symposium.
· The BSG hold an annual conference in September and invite
research postgraduates to present their results as either a paper
or a poster. This provides another opportunity to network with
academics and other students with similar research interests.
The AGM is also held during this time to which all BSG members
are welcome.
Small grants for research and publications, and conference
attendance
· The BSG provides grants to aid and enhance field or
laboratory research. Funding of up to £400 is available
for identifiable items of research expenditure (e.g. process cost
of a radiocarbon date or additional field equipment) rather than
for a small contribution to a large total expenditure.
· The BSG has a small pot of money to help students attend
conferences by contributing to the cost of registration, travel
and accommodation. Students without research council funding or
equivalent are particularly encouraged to apply. Grants up to
£150 for UK events and up to £300 (exceptionally £500)
for overseas events are available. There are 4 submission dates
a year for both the research and publication fund and the conference
fund; the end of September, December, March and May.
· Support for fixed-term working groups
· The BSG help several specialised fixed-term working
groups for a period of 3 years. Current examples of working groups
include rock weathering, upland sediment budgets and flow modelling
in fluvial geomorphology. This greatly encourages research between
universities and individuals.
Geophemera
· There are 3 publications of Geophemera each year which
are distributed to each BSG member. The newsletter includes up
to date information on BSG conferences and field meetings together
with information of other events (International and UK based)
convened by organisations other than the BSG. Reports on BSG
events, working groups and new initiatives are also presented
in Geophemera in addition to other news and articles of interest
to geomorphologists.
Affiliations to the BSG and the associated benefits
· The BSG is an independent body and as such is a registered
charity, but is affiliated to numerous organisations.
· The BSG is affiliated with the Geological Society of
London and is a study group of the Royal Geographical Society
(RGS) and with the Institution of British Geographers (IBG). The
RGS-IBG provide another important source of funding for research
and training in Geography; in 1999 the society provided nearly
£200 000 in grants supporting over 100 projects.
· The BSG is also a founder member of the International
Association of Geomorphologists (IAG). Amongst other events, the
IAG organise an International conference every four years. The
5th International Conference on Geomorphology will be held in
Tokyo, August 2001. Bursaries are available from the BSG.
· The British Sedimentological Research Group (BSRG) works
in close conjunction with the BSG.
· There are often reduced conference fees for meetings
associated with the BSG or affiliated bodies.
· Reduced subscription to the BSG journal Earth Surface
Processes and Landforms (ESP&L) is offered to members together
with reduced rates for other journals (e.g. Geomorphology) and
books published in conjunction with John Wiley.
Networking
· There is the opportunity to participate in the postgraduate
forum on the internet at http://www.mailbase.ac.uk/lists/praxis organised
in conjunction with the RGS-IBG.
This medium provides an open forum for geographers for trouble
shooting and a chance to share ideas in addition to accessing
newsletters and events information.
For further information contact the BSG Postgraduate Representatives
