This QRA Research Award is open to all members of the QRA and aims to support an outstanding application of scientific excellence for fieldwork expeditions and/or innovative laboratory-based projects. The award will be made to a maximum of £5000.

This award will support either of the following:

• expeditions to challenging environments,
• completion of a self-funded project,
• or the development of an innovative technique in the field of Quaternary Science.

Normally, only one application will be supported during a calendar year with the deadline for applications being September 15th annually. The announcement of the successful proposal will be made at the QRA Annual Discussion Meeting. At the discretion of the Awards Panel more than one application may be supported in any calendar year.

Application Process:

Applications should be made on the pro-forma attached to this document and will be held in the name of an individual who is the principal investigator for the proposed work. Details of the applicant should be provided on the front page with a title and short summary of the project proposal. Details of the other members of the team in the proposed project or expedition should also be provided where appropriate e.g. for a fieldwork expedition. A case for support of no more than two A4 pages (Arial Font 11, 1.15 line space) explaining: i) the scientific rationale behind the project; ii) a breakdown of the costs; and iii) explains the deliverables from the project. A 1-page A4 CV for the Principal Investigator should be included in addition to the two-page application. The final document should include the coversheet, two pages of the main application and the CV. Please save the application as a single pdf document with the file name ‘SURNAME’_QRARA_’YEAR’_appl.

The award can be used to fund field expenses and the hiring of local equipment in challenging or remote environments. Alternatively, the funds can be used to support laboratory expenses (but not labour costs or the purchase of new equipment) on standard procedures or innovations in new techniques. This could include expenses to visit the laboratories of collaborating institutions and consumable costs. As with other QRA awards, applications for radiocarbon determinations will not be considered. The QRA will not consider retrospective applications i.e. to support activities that will have occurred prior to the deadline.

Where possible the work should be scheduled to take place in the 12 months after acceptance of the award, although in well-justified circumstances this can be extended. Successful candidates will be expected to write a full-length article in the Quaternary Newsletter within 18 months of receipt of the award and also provide a statement of expenditure. In addition, the applicant will not be eligible to receive further QRA funds for 12 months after the receipt of the report. The financial support from the QRA should be acknowledged in any application, poster or presentation arising from funded activities. Access to the QRA logo can be gained from the Awards Officer to be included on posters.    

Criteria for the award of the Medal

This is the highest award of the QRA and is named in honour of James Croll (1821-1890). Croll is most closely associated with fundamental work on the astronomical theory of the ice ages, but he also made seminal contributions on the glacial geology of Scotland, on the mechanisms that drive ocean circulation and the impact of that circulation on recent climate, on tidal theory and the rotation of the Earth. These are all major issues that occupy Quaternary scientists to this day. Croll was effectively self-taught. His work and example demonstrate that any individuals from all backgrounds can rise to national eminence and generate science of lasting and major international impact, that it is not who you are or where you come from but what you do that is important. These are the qualities that the QRA seeks to celebrate in the award of the James Croll Medal.

The Medal is therefore normally awarded to a member of the QRA who has not only made an outstanding contribution to the field of Quaternary science, but whose work has also had a significant international impact.

Nominations

The candidate should be nominated and seconded by any QRA members 'of standing' who are familiar with the candidate's work.

Presentation of the award

The award will be presented at the January AGM. The successful candidate will be invited to receive their award in person from the President. Travel costs and one night's accommodation will be made available from QRA awards funds (if required).

Application procedure

Completed nomination forms should be forwarded as hard copies or electronically to the Awards Officer by the 15th September deadline.

Previous winners

2017 Professor Jan Mangerud (University of Bergen)
2016 Professor Ian Shennan (University of Durham)
2015 Professor Alayne Street-Perrot (University of Swansea)
2014 Professor Philip Gibbard (University of Cambridge)
2013 Professor John Lowe (Royal Holloway, University of London)

Criteria for the award of the medal

The Medal will be awarded to a young (normally less than 35 years old) or new research worker, who has been a member of the QRA for at least 3 years, and who has made a significant contribution to the Quaternary stratigraphy of the British Isles and its maritime environment. This is notionally taken to mean Britain, Ireland and surrounding offshore areas but adjacent areas of continental Europe that have relevance to the British Isles may also be taken into account. Quaternary stratigraphy is considered here to include both Pleistocene and Holocene records and to be broadly-based, encompassing lithostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy, biostratigraphy or other relevant fields.

Nominations

The candidate should be nominated by his or her Head of Department, PhD or postdoctoral supervisor or any other QRA member 'of standing' who is familiar with the candidate's work.

Presentation of the award

The award will be presented at the January AGM. The successful candidate will be invited to receive their award in person from the President. Travel costs and one night's accommodation (if required) will be made available from QRA awards funds. The recipient will be expected to submit a short summary of his or her research for publication in Quaternary Newsletter.

Previous Winners

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. 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 electronically by department and not by individual undergraduates. The QRA welcomes nominations from all appropriate sources, including new universities or small departments. 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.

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) at rhed@rgs.org. 

The submitted dissertation should not be sent with the internal mark or comments. Prior to submission, please check for completeness and clarity of any maps and illustrations (for example, that those requiring colour are printed in colour). For further details, please contact Catherine Souch: 020 7591 3022, e-mail: rhed@rgs.org or www.rgs.org.