The Cumberland Geological Society Bursary and Prize Fund (CGSBPF)

This fund includes the bequest in memory of Mervyn Dodd and replaces the previous funds in respect of Angela Marchant and Charles Edmonds. Other funds of the Society may also be used to fund such bursaries and prizes.

Aims

Subject to the availability of funds and the assessment and acceptance of applications, the Society provides financial grants to applicants for the following purposes:

a) to encourage research into the geology of Cumbria;

b) to further the knowledge of the geology of Cumbria;

c) to encourage students who are natives or resident in Cumbria or in full time education in Cumbria in their study of geology*. The Society also makes awards to recognise the achievements of a Member who has by their researches or other work made contributions to the knowledge of the geology of Cumbria.

How to apply for a Bursary

A candidate should contact the Secretary, Susan Beale, for an application form and further details.

Requirements of a successful candidate for a grant

A successful candidate for a grant should within 12 months of completing the work, provide the Society with an account of the use of their award either as a written account for publication in The Cumberland Geologist, subject to the Editor’s requirements, or as a presentation at a meeting of the Society.

The history of the Charles Edmonds Award

Charles Edmonds M.Sc., F.G.S. 1866-1964

Charles Edmonds was born in Bigrigg and spent all his working life connected with mines and mining in West Cumbria. Through his working experience in the haematite fields he developed a lifelong interest and expertise in limestones.

His knowledge of geology was self taught. Over many years his enthusiasm for the subject and his detailed exploration of the West Cumbrian limestones brought him recognition in geological circles. He was elected to a Fellowship of the Geological Society and to the Geologists’ Association, and in 1929 The Geological Society awarded him The Lyell Fund in recognition of his work. In 1954 the University of Durham presented him with an honorary M.Sc. Degree for his contribution to geological science.

The Award was established by the Society in 1964 to perpetuate the memory of Charles Edmonds. A fund was raised by public subscription and vested in Trustees appointed by the Council of the Society.

The prize is awarded to member candidates who have furthered geological knowledge of the North of England.

AWARD WINNERS

The former Angela Marchant Student Bursary Fund

Formulated in 2002 this is designed to assist students who have limited funds with geological fieldwork projects. Preference is given to students at school, college or university with Cumbrian connections. The amounts of funding are small but it was mounted to fulfil part of our role as a Society to support education in earth sciences.

This awards funds are now exhausted. We do however continue to support students either studying geology in the region or students from Cumbria undertaking geology field work elsewhere in the world.