RBS-IBG Gilchrist Fieldwork Award 2025 ( up to £15,000 )

The RBS-IBG Gilchrist Fieldwork Award, of the Gilchrist Educational Trust, was first awarded in 1990. It is entirely owned, funded and awarded by the Trust, but operationally administered for a fee by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).

The annual award, amounting to £15,000, is dedicated to a team of researchers who present an exceptional proposal aimed at advancing geographical knowledge through significant and challenging overseas fieldwork. This prestigious award seeks to support a single, intensive field session that promises to deliver high-quality research and comprehensive data collection. The proposed research must be innovative, pushing the boundaries of current geographical understanding, and should encompass a well-defined, methodologically sound approach. Moreover, the award emphasizes the importance of fostering strong links and collaborations with local agencies and communities in the areas where the fieldwork is to be conducted. It is crucial that the research team demonstrates not only the academic and scientific merits of their proposal but also the tangible benefits it will bring to the local populations involved.

These benefits might include capacity building, knowledge transfer, socio-economic improvements, and sustainable development initiatives that are directly aligned with the needs and aspirations of the local communities. Additionally, the proposal should outline strategies for effective community engagement, ensuring that the local stakeholders are actively involved in the research process and that their perspectives and insights are integrated into the study. The award thus aims to promote research that is not only scientifically robust and globally relevant but also ethically responsible and locally impactful, contributing to both the advancement of geographical knowledge and the well-being of the communities where the research is conducted.

Award of RBS-IBG Gilchrist Fieldwork