Award for Undergraduate Sedimentology
This award is presented to the best final-year undergraduate sedimentological project and celebrates undergraduate skills and achievement in sedimentology. The interests of BSRG members have always been broad, in line with our original ethos and therefore all aspects of sedimentology are considered. The project will normally have been submitted as part of the degree requirement in the student's final year of their undergraduate programme (BSc or undergraduate Masters degree e.g. MSci or MGeol) at a UK or Irish University.
Final-year projects submitted for the award should include sedimentological data that have been generated by the student through field, experimental, computational or laboratory based work. Final-year mapping projects that include a significant sedimentological component (such as detailed analysis supported by for example graphic logs, palaeoflow measurements, petrography, correlation panels or clast analysis) will be considered.
The judging panel will look for the following:
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Clear evidence of the ability to make, record and present high quality primary sedimentological observations.
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The interpretations are explored in an engaging manner with reference to related work incororated appropriately.
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The conclusions identify the main points of the project and are scientifically justified on the basis of the data presented.
Award Nomination Calls
The award nomination calls are announced and circulated through the BSRG mailing list, website and social media at the beginning of autumn (typically September). The nomination deadline is typically at the start of November each year and nominations are submitted to the BSRG Awards officer (brian.burnham@abdn.ac.uk).
Departments should select their top ranked, independent project by a final year student and submit:
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Student's name and degree course.
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The mark and a pdf copy of the marksheet.
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An account by the student's supervisor of the support provided during the project and the duration over which the student had to work on the project (i.e. was it due at the end of the academic year or half way through).
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Send by email/FTP/dropbox the entire project in pdf format to the BSRG Awards officer (brian.burnham@abdn.ac.uk).
The BRSG Award Undergraduate Sedimentology will be announced at the AGM.
Analysis of past awards identifies clear issues in relation to gender balance (11% female: 89% male) and underrepresentation with regards to ethnicity and race (4% BAME: 96% white). Please do take the time to think about this and to nominate someone deserving for the awards.
Past Winners
2023: Jack Heath (University of Manchester) – The sedimentary architecture of the Kinder Scout palaeodelta, a fluviodeltaic succession of the Namurian Pennine Basin.
2022: Jennifer Hewitt (Bangor University) – Are tidal simulations of the Jurassic Laurussian Seaway inaccurate?
2021: Annabella Ormerod (Bangor University)
2019: Vivien Field (University of Leicester) – Changes in lithostratigraphy and palaeoenvironment between the Tithonian and the Early Eocene on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset.
2017: Jesse Zondervan (Imperial College London) – Landscape response to active faulting, southern Gulf of Corinth, central Greece.
2016: Laura Briggs (University of Cambridge) – Sedimentological and ichnological analysis of the Upper Carboniferous Bude Formation, Culm Basin, Southwest England. Honourable mention: Isabela de la Cala (University of Hull).
2015: Alexander Rolland (University of St Andrews) – Hummocky cross stratification and ancient storms. Honourable mentions: Robert Housego (University of Hull) and Adam Lindley (Swansea University).
2014: Delano Henry (Kingston University) – Outcrop Study of the Bridport Sands and Sherwood Sandstone, Major Reservoir Intervals in the Wytch Farm Oilfield.
2013: Nicolas Cope (University of Manchester) – An environmental assessment of the Geohazards and Seep phenomena in the Mad Dog block, Gulf of Mexico. Honorable mentions: Geoff Richards (Bangor University) and Hannah Lee (Swansea University).
2012: David Warburton (Leeds University). Honorable mentions: Mark Quint and Matthew Whitney (Swansea University).
2011 - Marion Grundy (University of Liverpool). Honorable mentions: David Gold (University of Portsmouth) and India Weidle (Imperial College London).