British Geophysical Association

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £2,500-£3,000 (across multiple small grant programs)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 3 weeks (Outreach Fund); 3 months (Gray-Milne Bursary)
• Grant Range: £500 - £2,000
• Geographic Focus: UK national (applicants must be at UK institutions)

Contact Details

Website: https://geophysics.org.uk

Outreach Fund Applications: amy.gilligan@abdn.ac.uk

General Enquiries: Contact via website or through parent societies (Geological Society of London or Royal Astronomical Society)

Meetings Secretary: Contact for meeting support funding proposals

Overview

The British Geophysical Association (BGA) was established in 1980 as the Joint Association for Geophysics, adopting its current name in 1997. It operates as a joint association of the Geological Society of London (charity no. 210161) and the Royal Astronomical Society. The BGA's mission is to promote the subject of geophysics and strengthen the relationship between geophysics and other natural sciences in the UK. The organization is managed by a 14-member committee and focuses primarily on supporting early-career researchers, outreach activities, and scientific meetings. While modest in scale, the BGA plays an important role in the UK geophysics community through targeted support for education, training, and public engagement activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Outreach Fund: £500 - £2,000

• Total annual pot of £2,000
• Supports public outreach activities promoting understanding of geophysics
• Open to anyone studying or working in geophysics at UK universities or research institutions
• Application method: One-page proposal (A4, 11-point Arial font) via email
• Rolling basis with annual deadlines (typically late November, with results by late December)

Gray-Milne Trust Travel Bursary: Up to £500

• Supports geophysics-related work, training, and travel for PhD students
• Must be enrolled on a PhD course at a UK university
• Funds must be spent prior to thesis submission deadline
• Application method: Electronic form (Google Forms)
• Annual deadline (typically September)
• Decision timeline: Within 3 months

Meeting Support Grants: Amount varies

• Supports scientific meetings and conferences on geophysical topics
• Committee meets twice yearly to discuss funding applications
• Contact Meetings Secretary with proposals

Priority Areas

• Public outreach activities promoting geophysics understanding
• Activities engaging under-represented groups in geophysics
• PhD student travel and training in geophysics
• Scientific meetings and conferences on geophysical topics
• Educational initiatives in schools and universities
• Research training courses (e.g., GPS data processing, seismology)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the BGA's focus indicates they do not fund:

• Large-scale research projects (they focus on education and outreach)
• Activities outside the UK
• Applicants not affiliated with UK universities or research institutions
• Commercial or for-profit activities
• Projects unrelated to geophysics

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Governance and Leadership

The BGA is managed by a 14-member committee comprising:

Core Leadership:

• President: Dr. Jessica Johnson (School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia)
• Secretary: Dr. Paula Koelemeijer (Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford)
• Treasurer: Dr. James Hammond (School of Natural Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London)

Officer Roles:

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusions Officer: Dr. Jenny Jenkins (University of Edinburgh)
• Awards Officer: Dr. Emma Chambers (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies)
• Competitions Officer: Dr. Lidong Bie (University of East Anglia)
• Meetings Officer: Dr. Tim Craig (University of Leeds)
• Outreach and Schools Liaison Officer: Dr. Sophie Butcher (BGS Edinburgh)
• Web Officer: Dr. Stuart Nippress

Representatives:

• Industrial Representative: Michael Braim (ERCE)
• Postgraduate Representative: Frederik Madsen (University of Edinburgh)
• Undergraduate Representative: Saachi Jain (Imperial College London)

The committee includes directly elected members plus representatives appointed by each parent society, ensuring strong links between the BGA and the broader UK geophysics community.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Outreach Fund:

• Submit a one-page proposal (A4, 11-point Arial font) outlining intended activities and budget allocation
• Email proposal to amy.gilligan@abdn.ac.uk
• Deadline typically midnight on the last Friday of November
• Activities may span a 12-month period

Gray-Milne Travel Bursary:

• Complete electronic application form (Google Forms link provided on website)
• Submit EDI form
• Deadline typically mid-September
• Provide risk assessments and university guidance compliance documentation

Meeting Support:

• Contact Meetings Secretary with proposals for topics, venues, and co-sponsorship
• Committee meets twice yearly to review applications

Decision Timeline

Outreach Fund: Results announced by December 21st (approximately 3 weeks after November 30th deadline)

Gray-Milne Travel Bursary: Results provided via email within 3 months of application submission

Meeting Support: Reviewed at bi-annual committee meetings

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the Outreach Fund's structure suggests they aim to support multiple projects annually from the £2,000 pot, meaning applicants may receive less than their requested amount if multiple meritorious applications are received.

Reapplication Policy

No explicit reapplication policy is stated in public materials. Unsuccessful applicants should contact the relevant program officer for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Key Requirements

For Outreach Fund:

• Clear demonstration of how activities will promote understanding of geophysics
• Strong emphasis on engaging under-represented groups within geophysics
• Realistic budget breakdown
• Feasible 12-month activity timeline
• Commitment to post-award requirements (blog post, potential Astronomy & Geophysics article)

For Gray-Milne Travel Bursary:

• Must be enrolled on a PhD course at UK university
• Clear explanation of how funds will support geophysics-related work, training, or travel
• Expenditure must occur before thesis submission
• Compliance with university safety and risk assessment procedures

For Meeting Support:

• Meetings must be accessible and inclusive to scientists of all backgrounds
• EDI considerations must be integrated throughout planning
• Alignment with BGA's mission to promote geophysics in the UK

Examples of Funded Activities

• Training course on GAMIT/GLOBK software for processing raw GPS data (University of Bristol, 2017)
• Magnetic Interactions meeting (University of Edinburgh, 2017) - supported scientific program and 18 speakers for 2 days
• School Seismometer Project support (administered with British Geological Survey)

Standing Out

• Demonstrate inclusivity: Applications that actively seek to engage under-represented groups are explicitly welcomed
• Show broader impact: Explain how your outreach or training will benefit the wider geophysics community
• Be specific: Provide clear, detailed plans rather than vague intentions
• Consider accessibility: For meeting support, show how EDI principles are embedded throughout
• Commit to dissemination: Willingness to share results via blog posts or publications strengthens applications

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Scale expectations appropriately: The BGA operates with modest funding pots (£500-£2,000). Tailor requests to realistic amounts for small-scale activities rather than large research projects.

• Emphasize education and outreach: The BGA prioritizes activities that promote geophysics understanding and engagement over pure research. Frame applications around education, training, or public engagement.

• Highlight inclusivity: Applications that engage under-represented groups in geophysics receive explicit encouragement. Make diversity and inclusion a central theme.

• Target early-career researchers: Most programs specifically support PhD students and early-career geophysicists. Senior researchers should focus on meeting support rather than individual grants.

• Demonstrate UK impact: All funding requires UK institutional affiliation. Emphasize how your activities will benefit the UK geophysics community.

• Meet post-award obligations: Be prepared to write blog posts and potentially publish articles about funded activities. Budget time for this dissemination work.

• Apply strategically: With limited funds, the BGA may offer lower amounts if multiple strong applications are received. Be flexible on budget and consider applying early in the cycle.

References

• British Geophysical Association official website: https://geophysics.org.uk
• BGA Funding page: https://geophysics.org.uk/outreach/funding/
• BGA About page: https://geophysics.org.uk/about/
• Gray-Milne Travel Bursary page: https://geophysics.org.uk/awards/gray-milne-travel-bursary-ad/
• BGA Committee Members: https://geophysics.org.uk/meet-the-committee/meet-your-committee/
• British Geophysical Association Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Geophysical_Association
• The Geological Society of London - BGA page: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/bga
• Royal Astronomical Society - BGA page: https://ras.ac.uk/about-the-ras/79-general/253-british-geophysical-association
• BGA Recent Meetings: https://geophysics.org.uk/details-of-recent-meetings/