RGS-IBG Postgraduate Research Awards
The Society offers six awards of £2,000 annually for PhD students undertaking fieldwork/data collection. These awards, offered to individuals, aim to help students establish themselves in their particular field.
Awards are offered in each of the following areas: physical environment; conservation and sustainability; society and economy.
Deadline
23 November (each year)
Apply
Postgraduate Research Award guidelines (PDF)
Research Ethics and Code of Practice (PDF)
2012 RGS-IBG Postgraduate Research Award recipients
Physical environment
Amir Levy (Keele University). 'The impact of changes in catchment glacial extent on the shallow groundwater-surface water interactions of two proglacial SE Icelandic glaciers'
River-aquifer exchange influences proglacial hydrological systems by impacting stream discharge, temperature and biogeochemistry. Temporal and spatial variation in streambed temperature can be used to trace river-aquifer exchange patterns. This study monitored the streambed temperatures of two rivers in SE Iceland using high resolution, fibre-optic Distributed Temperature Sensing, which is ideal to detect the temperature gradients (2-6°) previously observed at the sites. The rivers are located in two representative (moraine-dominated site and a large proglacial outwash plain) proglacial settings. This study aimed to enhance the understanding of proglacial river-aquifer exchange processes and reduce the vulnerability of these systems to environmental changes.
Alessa J. Geiger (University of Glasgow). 'Thickness constraints of the Patagonian Ice Sheet over the last glacial cycle using surface exposure dating'
This research aims at providing the first empirical data on past ice sheet thickness from the centre to the periphery of the former Patagonian Ice Sheet over the last 110 thousand years at 49˚S. It utilises a technique whereby vertical ice downwasting can be established through dating the exposure of erratic rocks and/or bedrock since deposition or uncovering by glacier ice. Rock samples are collected along multiple mountain transects ranging between 500-1750 m.a.s.l to establish past ice thicknesses, glacier surface profiles and volumetric configurations at this locality over time. Ultimately the data will feed into palaeoclimatic reconstructions of Patagonia, southern South America.
Conservation and sustainability
Lise Andreassen (Royal Holloway). 'Optimising low to zero carbon energy techniques in new homes'
To help mitigate against on-going climate change, many UK planning authorities require the installation of low to zero carbon (LZC) energy technologies in new homes. While residents have typically not selected these (potentially unfamiliar) forms of technology, the operational assistance readily available may be limited (outside of the social/council housing sectors). This research sort to investigate whether occupants are using the technologies as intended by designers, and what factors constrain or assist usage. Existing support networks developed by occupants in selected locations were investigated with the aim of establishing a borough-wide network to facilitate improved usage of these LZC energy technologies.
Roweena Baker (University of Brighton). 'Understanding the effects of habitat geometry and landscape permeability on the gene flow and demographics of water vole populations'
Little is known on the spatial genetic structure of water vole populations and if or how these are influenced by landscape components at a local and regional scale. Despite conservation of national stronghold sites, many regional populations remain patchily distributed and potentially restricted by matrices of poor habitat within the wider landscape (UK BAP, 2008). Yet dispersal and gene flow are critical ecological processes that determine long term viability (McRae et al, 2005) and are important considerations when managing small and declining populations. This project studied the spatial genetic structure of water voles to investigate how landscapes structure their genetic variability, providing valuable information for regional and national policy for water vole conservation.
Society and economy
Stephanie Morrice (Royal Holloway). 'Returning home?: Emotional geographies of the disaster displaced in Brisbane and Christchurch'
There has been a notable absence in Geographic literature concerning the connection between disasters and the concept of “home”. Similarly, return migration has largely been overlooked in geographical enquiries, reflecting the assumption that migrants are returning “home” in a journey that involves little adjustment. This project used two post-disaster settings to explore how emotion motivates return migration decisions. With a recognition that these decisions are multidimensional. The project built on research that explores what it means to return somewhere that is expected to be familiar and safe, the project assessed the difference between expectations and the reality of return.
Aga Szewczyk (Loughborough University). 'Stepping stone' mobility processes of Polish students and graduate unemployment'
This project aimed to identify motivations for mobility of young Polish graduates to the East Midlands (the UK), and to the Greater Toronto Metropolitan Area (Canada). The study of young, educated European labour force can provide unique insight into changing social geographies, and complexities of skilled graduate migration during the global recession and high graduate unemployment.
For further information on these projects, including a summary of the research and expedition reports, please browse the Society's Expeditions Database.
About the Award
The RGS-IBG Postgraduate Research Award was a established in 2008, to support postgraduates undertaking research and fieldwork. Thus far the programme has supported 35 projects.