The annual dissertation prizes awarded by our Research Groups recognise outstanding work from undergraduate and postgraduate students at higher education institutions both in the UK and overseas.
See the full list with submission details below, in order of deadline date.
Undergraduate Dissertation Prizes
Developing Areas Research Group (DARG)
The Developing Areas Research Group in conjunction with Earthscan offers an annual prize for the most promising dissertation concerning ‘The Geography of Developing Areas’. The author of the winning dissertation receives £100 worth of Earthscan books of their choice, and 20% discount on any further Earthscan books ordered.
The prize is open to any student taking a first degree in Geography. Students taking joint degrees are eligible to enter for the prize, provided that at least half their course is in Geography. It is suggested that no Department of Geography submits more than one dissertation for this prize. Dissertations will be evaluated by three members of the DARG Committee.
Dissertations, along with a copy of the instructions given to students, should be sent by email as a PDF and should include “DARG UG dissertation submission” as the email subject. Please also include student details, and who to contact to announce the winner.
Submissions to: gemma.pearson.2013@live.rhul.ac.uk (DARG Undergraduate Prize Committee)
Deadline: 1 July 2018
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Geographies of Health and Wellbeing Research Group (GHWRG)
The GHWRG offers a dissertation prize, sponsored by the international journal Health and Place published by Elsevier. First prize is £150, with an honourable mention second prize of £50.
The prize is open to any currently registered undergraduate student in a UK university and will be awarded to the dissertation that exhibits the best overall contribution to any issue relating to health geography.
The dissertations should usually be of first class standard and be submitted by the student’s Department (Head or nominated representative) and with the student’s knowledge, in electronic format only. Please include a contact email address for the student (post-graduation if necessary). Please note that we can only accept one entry from any department.
Submissions to: matthew.callender@northampton.ac.uk (Matthew Callender, University of Northampton)
Deadline: 4 July 2018
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Participatory Geographies Research Group
The RGS/IBG Participatory Geographies Research Group is pleased to offer an annual prize of £100 for an undergraduate dissertation that examines a social justice theme and/or involves a participatory methodology.
Reflective of the scale and type of research carried out at undergraduate level, we are eager to encourage and reward both excellent scholarship and innovation which includes any of the following:
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Works with people, communities, or non-profit groups
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Explores social justice, community activist, social enterprises, or NGOs/CSOs
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Addresses issues of exclusion and marginalization
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Develops a participatory methodology
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Involves minority or vulnerable groups
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Incorporates tangible outcomes for community groups/NGOs
Nominated dissertations should: be a strong theoretical and/or empirical piece of work; be submitted for formal assessment in the current academic year to a UK Higher Education Institution for a BA/BSc level Geography degree programme; include a full set of references and images (as relevant); be written in English. All dissertations should be submitted as a single pdf file with a post-September email and contact address for the student.
Submissions to: r.scriven@umail.ucc.ie
Deadline: 6 July 2018
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Social and Cultural Geography Research Group (SCGRG)
The SCGRG offers an annual prize of £100 for the best undergraduate dissertation in Social and Cultural Geography. We also announce a runner-up prize. Both prize-winners also receive a year’s personal subscription to the journal Social & Cultural Geography published by Taylor & Francis. Please see the mission statement for our definition of what is considered social and cultural geography.
Nominated dissertations should be: an outstanding theoretical and/or empirical piece of work; usually over 10,000 words in length; submitted for formal assessment in the preceding academic year to a UK Higher Education Institution for a BA/BSc level degree programme in geography; written in English. We are looking to reward both excellent scholarship and innovation in the study of social and cultural geography. Please note that a department may not submit more than one entry and nominated dissertations should not be submitted for consideration for any other RGS-IBG prizes. Nominations are requested from the Head of Department or Dissertation Convenor.
All dissertations should be submitted as a single pdf file with a post-September email and contact address for the student. Submissions should be emailed with 'SCGRG Dissertation prize submission' as the subject header. For further queries about the SCGRG Undergraduate Dissertation Prize, please contact the dissertation convenor Sofie Narbed, details below.
Submissions to: sofie.narbed@rhul.ac.uk (Sofie Narbed, Dissertation Convenor, Royal Holloway, University of London)
Deadline: 6 July 2018
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Gender and Feminist Geographies Research Group (GFGRG)
The competition is now open and accepting entries for the best dissertation on any issue relating to geographies and gender. First prize is £60, Second prize is £30 and third prize is £20.
The dissertations should usually be 10,000 words or more and should be submitted as a pdf file, along with a copy of the appropriate departmental dissertation regulations and a (post-September) contact address for the student. Please note that departments may not submit more than one entry.
For any further details or questions please contact Dr Elizabeth Gagen using the details below.
Submissions to: elg26@aber.ac.uk (Dr Elizabeth Gagen, Aberystwyth University)
Deadline: 6 July 2018
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Food Geographies Working Group (FGWG)
The FGWG is pleased to offer a 1st place Undergraduate Dissertation Prize of £100 and a 2nd place of £50 to the dissertations that exhibit the best overall contributions to the wide range of issues relating to Food Geographies.
The prize is open to any currently registered undergraduate student at a UK university and any submitted dissertation should be of first class standard. The dissertation be submitted by the students Department (Head or nominated representative) and with the student’s knowledge, in electronic format only. Please include a contact email address for the student (post graduation if necessary). Please note that we can only accept one entry from any department and nominated dissertations should not be submitted for consideration for any other RGS-IBG prizes.
Submissions to: rebeccasandover@gmail.com (Rebecca Sandover, Secretary FGWG)
Deadline: 7 July 2018
Economic Geography Research Group (EGRG)
A prize of Global Shift, and a further £150 worth of Sage books is offered each year for the best undergraduate dissertation in economic geography.
Nominated dissertations should be: an outstanding theoretical and/or empirical piece of work; usually be 8000 words or more in length; submitted for formal assessment in the current academic year to a UK Higher Education Institution for a BA/BSc level Geography degree programme; include a full set of references and images (as relevant); be in PDF format; and to be written in English. Please note that a department may not submit more than one entry and nominated dissertations should not be submitted for consideration for any other RGS- IBG prizes.
Submissions to: c.m.muellerleile@swansea.ac.uk (Dr Chris Muellerleile)
Deadline: 8 July 2018
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Historical Geography Research Group (HGRG)
The Historical Geography Research Group, in association with the Routledge Research in Historical Geography Series, is pleased to offer a prize to the best undergraduate dissertation in any area of historical geography which is based upon original research and which demonstrates conceptual and/or methodological sophistication.
The 4 successful prize winner will receive £200 of Routledge-published books, and will be invited to submit an article based upon their dissertation for publication in the Journal of Historical Geography (subject to the standard refereeing procedures of that periodical). The winner will also be invited to present their work at the annual HGRG Practising Historical Geography Conference in November and will receive a year's free membership of the HGRG.
Dissertations should normally be of first-class standard and nominated by Heads of Department / Examination Boards / dissertation supervisors as appropriate. Departments should not submit more than one dissertation for consideration. Only dissertations submitted during the 2017-18 academic year by students enrolled in a geography degree programme at a university in the UK or (from the 2017-18 academic year) the Republic of Ireland will be considered.
Submissions (unmarked hardcopy AND accompanying PDF) should be sent to: Dr James Kneale, Department of Geography, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, London WC1A 0AP.
Email: j.kneale@ucl.ac.uk
Deadline: 13 July 2018
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History and Philosophy of Geography Research Group (HPGRG)
The History and Philosophy of Geography Research Group in conjunction with SAGE Geography is pleased to offer an Undergraduate Dissertation Prize for the best dissertation in the histories and/or philosophies of geography. The winner will receive a prize of £50 and a year’s free subscription to their choice of Progress in Human Geography or Progress in Physical Geography, and have their dissertation published on the HPGRG website.
We welcome nominations addressing the history of the discipline, philosophy of the discipline, and/or geographical knowledge, discourses and practices across academic, public and/or private spheres. The dissertation should have been completed within the past two years and be written in English. We welcome nominations not only from the UK but also from other countries. Depending on the number and quality of submissions, the prize may not be awarded every year.
Please direct all questions and submit an electronic copy of the dissertation (PDF format) with your letter of recommendation and the candidate’s contact details to Dr Pauline Couper, details below. As far as possible, please provide a non-university email account for the candidate as contact will likely happen after their graduation.
Submissions to: p.couper@yorksj.ac.uk (Dr Pauline Couper)
Deadline: 13 July 2018
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Quantitative Methods Research Group (QMRG)
The prize is for the best dissertation that engages with quantitative geography. Innovative geographic data science analyses, effective deployments of existing geographical science methods, or fundamental research in spatial models will all be considered. There is a cash prize for the winner(s).
Entries are limited to undergraduate students completing BSc / BA level dissertations in UK higher education institutions. Entrants must be nominated by a member of staff within those institutions. Each institution is limited to a single entry. Entries are judged by members of the QMRG committee who may, depending on the number and types of entries received, decide to award separate prizes for different fields of the discipline.
If you would like to nominate a dissertation, please email a copy (without any indication of the mark the dissertation received) to Alistair Geddes, details below.
Submissions to: a.y.geddes@dundee.ac.uk (Alistair Geddes)
Deadline: 14 July 2018
Political Geography Research Group (PolGRG)
A prize of £75 is offered for the best undergraduate dissertation in political geography submitted to a UK university during the 2017-18 academic year.
We welcome nominations that are conceptually, methodologically, and empirically innovative from across the broad spectrum of political geography. Nominations are requested from Dissertation Supervisors or Heads of Department, but should be limited to one per department.
Nominated dissertations should be submitted as a single PDF file of less than 25MB in size, along with a letter of recommendation and a copy of the appropriate departmental dissertation regulations. Nominations will be shortlisted by a panel of political geographers and the winner will be chosen by the PolGRG committee.
Submissions to: incea@cardiff.ac.uk (Dr Anthony Ince)
Deadline: 15 July 2018
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Transport Geography Research Group (TGRG)
Entries are invited for this annual competition, which is awarded to the best undergraduate dissertation that focuses on any aspect of the geography of mobility and transport, undertaken at a UK university, and which demonstrates conceptual and/or methodological sophistication. The successful prize winner will receive Edward Elgar books of their choice to the value of £150 kindly sponsored by Edward Elgar and will be invited to submit an article based upon their dissertation for publication in the Journal of Transport Geography (subject to the standard refereeing procedures of that journal).
The prize is open to any student taking an undergraduate student in a UK Department of Geography, Social Sciences, Planning, Transport Studies, Earth Sciences or Environmental Sciences, as long as the work undertaken has a geographical element, and submitting their dissertation in the current academic year.
The dissertation must substantially focus on a transport topic (e.g. transport policy, economic impact of transport, transport and land use, travel behaviour, social inclusion, the journey experience, identity and mobility). The submitting department may contact Dr Juliet Jain for advice about whether the topic is within scope. Only dissertations awarded a first class mark will be considered and departments can submit no more than two dissertations for this prize. Nominated dissertations should not be submitted for consideration for any other RGS-IBG prize. Dissertations will be evaluated by three members of the TGRG Committee.
Nominated dissertations should be sent electronically in PDF format (of less than 25MB in size), along with a letter of recommendation and a copy of the appropriate departmental dissertation regulations, by the student’s Department (Head or nominated representative) and with the student’s knowledge. We also require personal contact details for the student so that the successful student can be contacted, which will be after they have graduated. For file sizes above 15 MB please transfer electronically but not using e-mail.
Submissions to: Juliet.Jain@uwe.ac.uk (Dr Juliet Jain, TGRG Prizes and Awards Rep.)
Deadline: 16 July 2018
Urban Geography Research Group (UGRG)
UGRG’s annual undergraduate dissertation prize is for innovative, original and high quality research in urban geography. The winner will receive a prize to the value of £75, and have their dissertation published on the UGRG website.
No substantive area of urban geography is excluded from consideration: we welcome submissions which address any aspect of the social, cultural, economic or political life of cities. Additionally, dissertations may be based on secondary (archival) or primary data, addressing urban issues via a contemporary or historical focus.
The prize is open to any currently registered undergraduate student in a UK Department of Geography, Planning, Earth Sciences or Environmental Sciences. Whilst it is expected that most such students will be in their third year of study (FT), students in the final year of a 4 year program may be entered for the prize so long as the nominated dissertation has been submitted for an undergraduate (rather than Masters) degree. Entries from year 4 students will be assessed according to higher marking criteria.
It is customary for Dissertation Tutors or Heads of Departments to nominate outstanding urban geography dissertations for this prize. Departments may not submit more than one entry. Please note that only electronic submissions will be accepted and considered for the prize (PDF or Word file).
Submissions to: FullerC2@cardiff.ac.uk (Crispian Fuller)
Deadline: 18 July 2018
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Geography of Leisure and Tourism Research Group (GLTRG)
The Geography of Leisure and Tourism Research Group offers an annual prize of £150 for the best undergraduate dissertation in Leisure/Tourism/Sports Geography, submitted as part of a BA, BSc or BEd degree in a geographical subject.
A department should not normally submit more than one entry. Entries should be accompanied by a copy of the instructions given to students, and a note of the dissertation credit rating and mark awarded. Please also include a (post-September) contact e-mail address for the student, so that they can be notified of the result of the competition, and indicate whether the dissertation should be returned to the department or to the student.
Submissions to: RHED@rgs.org (GLTRG Committee, c/- Research and Higher Education Division of the RGS-IBG), or sent by post to: GLTRG Committee, c/- RHED, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), 1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR.
Deadline: 22 July 2018
Race, Culture and Equality Working Group (RACE) The Race, Culture & Equality (RACE)
The Race, Culture and Equality Working Group would like to recognise research conducted by undergraduate students on any issue related to the geographies of race, racism and equality. The winner will receive a cash prize.
Nominations are requested from Dissertation Supervisors or Heads of Department at any UK Geography department. There is no limit of submissions per institution, but nominated dissertations should not be submitted for consideration for any other RGS-IBG prizes. Students taking joint degrees are eligible to enter for the prize, provided that at least half their course is in Geography. The dissertations should be circa 10,000 words in length and submitted for formal assessment in the current academic year. Dissertations will be evaluated by five members of the RACE Committee.
Please send the following via email or link (e.g. Dropbox) to Dr James Esson; 1) a single PDF file of the dissertation; 2) a copy of the appropriate departmental dissertation regulations; and 3) contact details for the student (post-September 2017). Nominations should include “RACE UG dissertation submission” as the email subject.
Submissions to: j.esson@lboro.ac.uk (Dr James Esson, Loughborough University)
Deadline: 22 July 2018
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Geographies of Children, Youth and Families Research Group (GCYFRG)
Two prizes, part sponsored by Routledge, Taylor and Francis, are available for innovative and high quality undergraduate dissertations on any issue related to the geographies of children, youth and families (first prize: £100 and a year's subscription to Children's Geographies; second prize: £50 and a year's subscription to Children's Geographies).
The dissertations should be approximately 10,000 words in length. Please send the following via email or link (i.e. Dropbox): i) a pdf file of the dissertation and ii) a (post- September) email address for the student. Open to any UK Geography department; please note a department may not submit more than one entry.
Entries to be sent to: s.a.hadfield-hill@bham.ac.uk (Dr Sophie Hadfield-Hill)
Deadline: 31 July 2018
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Population Geography Research Group (PopGRG) (Joanna Stillwell Prize)
This prize is named in memory of the daughter of Professor John Stillwell of the University of Leeds, Joanna, who was a geography graduate from the University of Sheffield, and died in 2004. The Population Geography Research Group has set up three prizes (£100 for first prize; £50 for second prize; £25 for third prize) to be awarded for the best undergraduate dissertations in the broad field of Population Geography.
Please note that for practical purposes we can only accept one dissertation from any institution and to be eligible that institution has to be in the UK. Please send a copy of the dissertations (with the mark awarded included) to Dr David McCollum, details below.
Submissions to: david.mccollum@st-andrews.ac.uk (Dr David McCollum); or post to: Dr David McCollum, School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews, KY16 9AL, UK
Deadline: 31 July 2018
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Rural Geography Research Group (RGRG)
The prize is available to students who have completed an undergraduate degree and produced a dissertation in a subject area related to rural geography. Three prizes are available - first prize: £50; second prize: £40; third prize: £30.
Please note that for practical purposes we can only accept one dissertation from any institution and that institution has to be in the UK. Electronic submission is preferred.
For more information please contact Dr Fiona Williams, details below.
Submissions to: fiona.williams@chester.ac.uk (Dr Fiona Williams, University of Chester).
Deadline: 31 July 2018
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Energy Geographies Research Group (EnGRG)
The EnGRG would like to recognise the research of undergraduate students working within the broad remit of energy geographies. We invite Geography departments to select and submit one dissertation for consideration by the EnGRG Committee for a prize of £75 to the winning candidate.
The EnGRG encourages submissions that explore energy in a geographical context, recognising the spatially and temporally complex nature of energy issues that operate at a range of scales. Candidates should be undertaking undergraduate study for either a single or combined honours degree programme in Geography in a UK university.
Entries should be sent via e-mail as a PDF to Neil Simcock, details below.
Submissions to: neil.simcock@manchester.ac.uk (Neil Simcock)
Deadline: 31 July 2018
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Space, Sexualities and Queer Research Group (SSQRG)
The Space, Sexualities and Queer Research Group (SSQRG) is pleased to offer a prize of £50 to the best undergraduate dissertation on a theme related to sexualities and/or queer research in human geography.
The dissertation should be an excellent piece of original work (normally marked as first class or the equivalent) submitted in the most recent academic year to fulfil the requirements of an undergraduate degree programme in geography, circa 10,000 words (although this will vary depending on departmental criteria for undergraduate dissertations). Entries must be written in English.
Nominations should be sent electronically by the Head of Department or nominated designee along with a letter of recommendation. Please note that a department may not submit more than one entry. Dissertations should be submitted in electronic form as a PDF file of less than 20MB in size (with text unaltered from how they were originally submitted for assessment). Nominators should also include an electronic copy of the relevant dissertation guidance/handbook.
Submissions to: M.M.Zebracki@leeds.ac.uk (Dr Martin Zebracki, SSQRG Chair)
Deadline: 27 August 2018
Quaternary Research Association (QRA)
The Quaternary Research Association, in association with the RGS-IBG, would like to recognise the achievements of undergraduates in Quaternary Science by awarding a dissertation prize (£250) for a thesis demonstrating flair and originality. The winner will be announced at the QRA Annual General Meeting (held annually each January) and the abstract of their dissertation published in an issue of Quaternary Newsletter.
This prize is open to any undergraduate enrolled at a British or Irish university. Membership of the QRA or RGS- IBG is not a requirement for entry. Entries are limited to one per department per current academic year and may be on any Quaternary theme. Entries must be submitted by department and not by individual undergraduates. The QRA welcomes nominations from all appropriate sources, including new universities or small departments.
An electronic copy of eligible dissertations including the contact details of the department and undergraduate author (marked for the QRA prize) should be emailed to Dr Catherine Souch at the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers). The submitted dissertation should not be sent with the internal mark or comments, but please ensure that each submission is accompanied by a statement from the Department indicating the weighting of the Dissertation within the degree. Prior to submission, please check for completeness and clarity of any maps and illustrations. For further details contact rhed@rgs.org.
Submissions to: rhed@rgs.org (Dr Catherine Souch, Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers)).
Deadline: 15 September 2018
The British Society for Geomorphology (BSG) - Marjorie Sweeting Dissertation Prize
This is awarded to the best undergraduate dissertation that focuses on ‘Geomorphology’ undertaken at a UK university. Entries are invited for this annual competition. The award (£200 plus funded attendance at the BSG Annual Conference) is presented to the successful nominee at the Annual General Meeting, the details of which are available from the BSG website.
The agreed guidelines for assessment are as follows:
Subject area: the field of geomorphology: earth surface process, and the erosion, deposition and formation of landforms and sediments. Foci can include the physical geography of river, valley, glacier, mountain, hillslope, coast, desert and estuary environments; alongside responses to Holocene, Quaternary and other long term environmental changes.
Originality: The project should be an independent study, originated by the student. In particular, it should not be linked to a funded research programme, nor exhibit undue influence of or similarity to the supervisor’s known and published work.
Further details are available from: Dr Annie Ockelford (A.Ockelford@brighton.ac.uk), BSG Outreach Committee, Environment and Technology, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, BN2 4GJ.
Submissions through online form at: http://geomorphology.org.uk/node/533
Deadline: 30 September 2018
Postgraduate Dissertation Prizes
The British Society for Geomorphology (BSG) – Dick Chorley Medal and Prize for Postgraduate Research
One of Dick Chorley’s lasting contributions to geomorphology lies in the postgraduate students whom he inspired and guided at the start of their academic careers. Many have gone on to academic careers themselves, and include several of the leading figures in British geomorphology.
In recognition of Dick’s commitment to serving the future of the discipline, the BSG has honoured his memory by creating the Dick Chorley Medal and Prize (£500) for Postgraduate Research. The award is made for “the most significant original published contribution to geomorphology by a current or recently graduated post-graduate student”.
Anyone is allowed to nominate candidates (e.g. supervisors, external examiners, Heads of School, supervisory team members). One paper, published in an English language research journal, will be considered. Nominated candidates must be within 3 years of obtaining their PhD (i.e. graduation) and should usually be the first author of the paper under consideration. The nomination should include the paper and outline the significance of the work, including reference to: (a) originality of the contribution to the study of geomorphology; (b) significance of the contribution to the development of geomorphological theory and principles; (c) Clarity of explanation and presentation. Nominations will be carried over for a maximum of one year at the discretion of the BSG Research Sub-committee.
Further details and nominations for the award should be made online from the BSG website.
Deadline: Nominations can be made at any time and are drawn together at the end of January each year for consideration.
Geographical Information Science Research Group (GIScRG)
The GIScience Research Group of the RGS-IBG awards two annual prizes for the two best postgraduate dissertation on any issue relating to GIS/Sc, spatial analysis, spatial modelling or geocomputation. The prize for the best dissertation is £100 plus an annual RGS-IBG Postgraduate Fellowship and the runner up will receive £50 plus an annual RGS-IBG Postgraduate Fellowship.
We are looking for a Masters level dissertation of approximately 10,000 words in length, which covers significant research in one or more of these areas. Dissertations should be of "Distinction" standard and be submitted by the student's institution (Director of Postgraduate Programme or nominated representative) and with the student’s knowledge.
Please submit the work in electronic form, along with a copy of the dissertation regulations to Dr Seraphim Alvanides. We will only accept one entry per department of higher education institutions in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
Submissions to: s.alvanides@northumbria.ac.uk (Dr Seraphim Alvanides, Northumbria University).
Deadline: 30 November 2018
Planning and Environment Research Group (PERG)
PERG offers an annual postgraduate prize (£100) for the best taught Masters dissertation on any issue relating to environmental issues and their management, policy, politics, planning or governance.
Dissertations should be 20,000 words maximum and should be submitted by the student’s department, along with a copy of the appropriate departmental dissertation regulations and contact details for the student. Each department may not submit more than one entry.
Submissions in electronic format (either Word or pdf files) and queries should be directed to Stephen Axon.
Submissions to: S.W.Barr@exeter.ac.uk (Stewart Barr, PERG Chair)
Deadline: 11 December 2018
Energy Geographies Research Group (EnGRG)
The Energy Geographies Research Group would like to recognise the performance and achievements of outstanding postgraduates in Geography by awarding a Masters level dissertation prize (£75) for a thesis demonstrating originality of thought, quality of research, and excellence in presentation.
The EnGRG encourages submissions that explore energy in a geographical context, recognising the spatially and temporally complex nature of energy issues that operate at a range of scales. We invite departments to select and submit one dissertation for consideration by the EnGRG Committee. With the permission of the author, the dissertation will be published on our website.
Submissions to: neil.simcock@manchester.ac.uk (Neil Simcock)
Deadline: 31 December 2018
Population Geography Research Group (PopGRG)
The Population Geography Research Group is offering the Bob Woods Postgraduate Dissertation Prize for the best Taught Masters dissertation. The winner of the award will receive £100.
The prize is named in honour of Professor Bob Woods, who passed away in 2011. Bob was an esteemed population geographer, with interests across the sub- discipline. He made an invaluable contribution to the sub-discipline for many decades.
Please note that for practical purposes we can only accept one dissertation from any institution and to be eligible that institution has to be in the UK.
Please send a copy of the dissertation (with the mark awarded included) to Dr David McCollum, details below.
Submissions to: david.mccollum@st-andrews.ac.uk (Dr David McCollum) or post to: Dr David McCollum, School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews, KY16 9AL, UK
Deadline: 31 December 2018
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Economic Geography Research Group (EGRG)
A prize of Global Shift, The Sage Handbook of Economic Geography, and a further £150 worth of Sage books is offered each year to the best PhD thesis in economic geography. Any economic geography thesis that has been passed at a UK institution in the past 12 months is eligible.
A PDF copy of the thesis should be forwarded to Dr Jennifer Johns.
Submissions to: j.johns@liverpool.ac.uk (Dr Jennifer Johns)
Deadline: 29 January 2019
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Rural Geography Research Group (RGRG)
This prize is available to students who have completed a taught Masters degree and produced a dissertation in a subject area related to rural geography. The award is £50.
Please include a post-September contact address for the student in the nomination. Please note that for practical purposes we can only accept one dissertation from any institution and that institution has to be in the UK. Electronic submission is preferred.
For more information, please contact Dr Richard Yarwood, details below.
Submissions to: ryarwood@plymouth.ac.uk (Dr Richard Yarwood); or post to: Dr Richard Yarwood, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK
Deadline: 31 January 2019
Geographies of Justice Research Group (GJRG)
The Geographies of Justice Research Group Postgraduate Award is for students undertaking a postgraduate level research project. The research project should have ‘justice’ (broadly conceived) as a key theme; applications from students undertaking work in or across any of areas of research relating to geographies of justice are welcome to apply. A maximum of £500 is available (average awards will be around £250).
Applicants are advised to ensure that their research fits with the aims and objectives of the Geographies of Justice Research Group (available here). In particular, applicants are recommended to take note of the following aim of the research group: “to promote research practice which informs and promotes justice, including the development of appropriate methodologies, the transformation of personal practices, the exploration of linkages with pedagogy, and modes of research dissemination, influence and academic engagement within and beyond the academic community of geographers”.
Applicants can apply for any aspect of the proposed project (e.g. design, data production, project evaluation), but the precise nature of where the money will be spent must be explained (see below). This must also be detailed in a post-grant report, which will be uploaded onto the Research Group’s website.
Applications could include (but are not limited to) the following activities:
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Travel and subsistence costs for researchers or research participants
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Equipment or materials for research
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Arranging a workshop or other event at the end of your project to discuss your findings with your participants, or to disseminate your work to different user groups
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Creating a non-academic, open access repository for your research so that it is in the public domain
Applications will be assessed according to the Research Group’s aims and objectives detailed above. Innovative applications that seek to move beyond ‘traditional’ academic forms of dissemination (e.g. publishing papers and presenting conference papers) are particularly welcome. We also welcome applications from students working in the Global North and South, and for students working in partnership with non-academic organisations. Applications from both Masters and PhD students are welcome, and will be treated equally in terms of assessment.
Applicants should complete the application form (found here) and adhere to the word count.
Submissions to: peter.hopkins@ncl.ac.uk (Chair of the Geographies of Justice Research Group)
Deadline: 9 April 2019
Transport Geography Research Group (TGRG)
Emerald Group Publishing are sponsoring this year’s Postgraduate Paper Prize which will be awarded to the best conference paper presented in a TGRG-sponsored session at the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) Annual Conference. There is a first prize of £100 and a book chosen from the Emerald transport titles, and a runner-up prize of a book chosen from the Emerald transport titles.
The competition is open to post-graduate students, or anyone who has had their PhD viva or MSc graduation since the last annual conference. Those wishing to be considered for the postgraduate prize should indicate their intention to enter by emailing postgraduate reps Clare Woroniuk and Deborah Mifsud by Friday 30 June.
They should then ensure that a pdf file of the full written paper (up to 6,000 words), along with a copy of any powerpoint slides to be used in the presentation, is submitted to the TGRG Secretary, Simon Blainey, and to Clare and Deborah by 5pm on Friday 11 August. The papers and presentations will be judged by a panel drawn from TGRG committee members.
Submissions to: S.P.Blainey@soton.ac.uk (simon Blainey, TGRG Secretary), clare.woroniuk@ncl.ac.uk (Clare Woroniuk, Postgraduate Rep) and deborah.mifsud@um.edu.mt (Deborah Mifsud, Postgraduate Rep).
Deadline: 5pm on 11 August 2019
Note: The competition for 2017-2018 has now closed for submissions.