Awards

The David Linton Award is given to a geomorphologist who has made a leading contribution to the discipline over a sustained period. The winner will receive a Medal and is invited to present the Linton Lecture, which is one of the central elements of the BSG Annual General Meeting.

Nominations are drawn together for the selection process in January each year and should be submitted by the end of December of the preceding year. In the nomination form you need to include the details of nominee (name, email and institution), a section outlining their key contributions and a statement of nomination (maximum 2000 characters).

Applications are assessed  and ranked independently by the members of the Research sub-committee and  then collectively discussed in the February/March sub-committee meeting to decide which nominations are to be awarded. These are then taken to the Executive Committee for ratification.

Strong applications clearly demonstrate the sustained impact of the applicant on the geomorphological community; this can be based on publications, the enhancement of knowledge, policy or wider outreach activities and/or mentoring and development. Each  application is judged on their individual merit within  the field.

Unsuccessful nominations will be carried forward for a maximum of two further years, if (i) the Research Committee deems them to be of a sufficiently high calibre to be competitive in future years and (ii) the nominee remains eligible for the Award.

Professor Sanjeev Gupta

Citation: Professor Sanjeev Gupta has been extremely influential to British (and world) geomorphology both through his research and his role as a mentor and leader for young geomorphologists and Earth scientists. Over the course of his career, Sanjeev has made fundamental contributions in at least four separate fields of Earth and planetary science – including Martian geomorphology, the origin of the English Channel, and tectonic geomorphology with early contributions to geomorphology of extensional basins and megafan development in the Himalayan region. Across a prolific set of outputs (167 documents listed in SCOPUS as of March 2024), Sanjeev has been a tireless public advocate for our field and has substantially raised the profile of our discipline through public and media engagement. This has included significant media interest about the megaflood origin of the English Channel and Martian geomorphology. He has spoken at numerous science and space festivals as well as exhibitions across the UK. He has also organised workshops with the Government of India around management of groundwater resources. He has also championed the work of early-career scientists, serving as advisor to a large number of postdocs and PhD students and as a more informal mentor to many scientists across the UK. His influence and generosity are evident from the number of students and postdocs who are first-authors on his publications and has been a particular source of support in navigating the British academic system for a substantial number of colleagues who moved to the UK in recent decades. Sanjeev has infectious enthusiasm for our field and it is hard to imagine a better advocate for British geomorphology. He has made a sustained and enormous contribution towards geomorphology and is a highly deserving recipient of the Linton Award.

• Colin Woodroffe (2023)
• Andrew Brook (2022)
• Lynne Frostick (2021)
• Ellen Wohl (2020)
• Tavi Murray (2019)
• Herve Piegay (2018)
• Tim Burt (2017)
• Jean Poesen (2016)
• Keith Richards (2015)
• Jonathan Phillips (2014)
• Gerald Nanson (2013)
• Angela Gurnell (2012)
• John Lewin (2011)
• Adrian Harvey (2010)
• Andrew Goudie (2009)
• Tom Dunne (2008)
• Des Walling (2007)
• Bill Dietrich (2006)
• Rob Ferguson (2005)
• David Sugden (2004)
• Olav Slaymaker (2003)
• Athol Abrahams (2002)
• Michael Thomas (2001)
• William Graf (2000)
• Ken Gregory (1999)
• John Thornes (1998)
• Asher Schick (1997)
• Michael Church (1996)
• Vic Baker (1995)
• M. Gordon Wolman (1994)
• Denys Brunsden (1993)
• Frank Oldfield (1992)
• C.A.M. King (1991)
• George H. Dury (1990)
• Mike Kirkby (1989)
• E.H. Brown (1988)
• J De Ploey (1987)
• Luna B. Leopold (1986)
• Leszek Starkel (1985)
• R.J. Chorley (1984)
• J.R.L. Allen (1983)
• Stanley Schumm (1982)
• R.A. Bagnold (1981)

The Gordon Warwick Award is made annually for excellence in geomorphological research by someone within 15 years of being awarded their doctorate (i.e. time since graduation). The winner will receive a Medal and is invited to present the Gordon Warwick Lecture, which is one of the central elements of the BSG Annual General Meeting.

Nominations are drawn together for the selection process in January each year and should be submitted by the end of December of the preceding year. In the nomination form you need to include the details of nominee (name, month/year PhD awarded, email and institution), a section outlining their key publications and a statement of nomination (maximum 2000 characters).

Applications are assessed  and ranked independently by the members of the Research sub-committee and  then collectively discussed in the February/March sub-committee meeting to decide which nominations are to be awarded. These are then taken to the Executive Committee for ratification.

Strong applications clearly demonstrate the impact of the applicant on geomorphological research; this is through both high quality publications and developing understanding in their field of geomorphology. Consideration may also be given to the nominees wider external esteem (such as contribution to expert panels and policy, editor roles, mentorship etc.)..

Unsuccessful nominations will be carried forward for a maximum of two further years, if (i) the Research Committee deems them to be of a sufficiently high calibre to be competitive in future years and (ii) the nominee remains eligible for the Award.

Professor Georgina King

Citation: Professor Georgina King is an exceptional geochronologist and geomorphologist who combines the development of cutting-edge trapped charge dating techniques, specifically luminescence and electron spin resonance, with developing new understanding of major outstanding research questions in the Quaternary evolution of mountain landscapes. Her PhD was awarded in 2012 and explored the fundamental and sedimentological controls on the luminescence of quartz and feldspar minerals at Jostedalen, Norway. Since 2016, Prof. King has been an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne, Switzerland, where she leads the Interactions between Climate and Earth Surface Processes research group. In 2019, she was awarded a Starting Grant by the European Research Council to investigate the feedbacks between tectonic uplift, erosion and climate change in shaping the evolution of mountain ranges, focussed on the European Alps. She leads a diverse team of talented early career researchers who benefit greatly from her commitment to their career development, and is active in improving the diversity of scientists in her field more generally. Prof. King’s work elegantly combines field observations with sophisticated laboratory analyses and numerical modelling. She has an impressive track record of publication across both specialist and big-picture journals and has contributed to a wide range of research projects exploring the interactions between landscape evolution and climate by applying a rigorous and quantitative approach. She serves as an outstanding example of someone who conducts research to the highest standards while providing mentorship for the next generation of geomorphologists. As such, she is a very worthy recipient of the Warwick Award.

• Louise Slater (2023)
• Rebecca Hodge (2022)
• Bethan Davies (2021)
• Joe Wheaton (2020)
• Walter Bertoldi (2019)
• Larissa Naylor (2018)
• Martin Austin (2017)
• Doug Jerolmack (2016)
• Kirstie Fryirs (2015)
• Simon Mudd (2014)
• Chris Stokes (2013)
• Dimitri Lague (2012)
• Joe Holden (2011)
• Dan Parsons (2010)
• Ian Candy (2009)
• Kristof Van Oost (2008)
• Niels Hovius (2007)
• Tom Coulthard (2006)
• Stephen Tooth (2005)
• Jo Bullard (2004)
• David Nash (2003)
• Andrew Nicholas (2002)
• David Higgitt (2001)
• Tavi Murray (2000)
• John Wainwright (1999)
• J.J. McDonell (1998)
• Tim Quine (1997)
• Gerard Govers (1996)
• J.R. French (1995)
• J Best (1994)
• Mark Macklin (1993)
• John Dearing (1992)
• Kenneth Pye (1991)
• M. Sharp (1990)
• J.S. Walder (1988)
• Colin Ballantyne (1987)
• Bill Dietrich (1986)

One of Dick Chorley’s lasting contributions to geomorphology lies in the post-graduate students whom he inspired and guided at the start of their academic careers. Many have gone on to academic careers themselves, and include several of the leading figures in British geomorphology. In recognition of Dick’s commitment to serving the future of the discipline, the BSG has decided to honour his memory by creating the Dick Chorley Medal and Prize (£500) for Postgraduate Research.

The award is made for a published paper based on PhD research, where the nominee is expected to be the first author. Nominees should be within 4 years of their PhD award at the time of nomination. The winner will receive a Medal and is invited to present the Dick Chorley Lecture, which is one of the central elements of the BSG Annual General Meeting.

Nominations are drawn together for the selection process in January each year and should be submitted by the end of December of the preceding year. In the nomination form you need to include the details of nominee (name, month/year of PhD, email and institution PhD was awarded at), details of the nominated publication (included a PDF copy to upload) and a statement of nomination (maximum 2000 characters).

Applications are assessed  and ranked independently by the members of the Research sub-committee and  then collectively discussed in the February/March sub-committee meeting to decide which nominations are to be awarded. These are then taken to the Executive Committee for ratification.

Strong applications clearly demonstrate the geomorphological significance of the nominated paper; the nominee must be the first author of the publication and where there is evidence of the nominee showing research independence and clear leadership of the research will be viewed favourably.

Unsuccessful nominations will be carried forward for a maximum of two further years, if (i) the Research Committee deems them to be of a sufficiently high calibre to be competitive in future years and (ii) the nominee remains eligible for the Award.

Awarded to the paper by Dr Anya Leeman:

Leenman, A. S. Eaton, B. C. and L. G. MacKenzie (2022) Floods on alluvial fans: implications for reworking rates, morphology and fan hazards. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 127(2), e2021JF006367; doi: 10.1029/2021JF006367

Citation: The paper “Floods on Alluvial Fans: Implications for Reworking Rates, Morphology and Fan Hazards” by Anya Leenman, Brett Eaton, and Lucy MacKenzie is a remarkable piece of research led by Dr Anya Leenman during her PhD, and which is highly deserving of the Dick Chorley Award. This study is notable for several key contributions to the field of geomorphology and fan hazards. First and foremost, the paper offers groundbreaking insights into the dynamics of alluvial fans. Anya and her co-authors undertook a series of experiments with a small-scale model of a fan to explore the importance of this flow variability. The experiments included a range of different hydrograph shapes, including constant flow, alternating high and low flows, and flood peaks with different rates of decay. Based on the experiment outcomes, the authors then demonstrated that different hydrographs generate fans with different slopes, despite an identical mean flow and sediment supply. Importantly, these results challenge prevailing assumptions that a single representative flow can be used to approximate the geomorphic effects of a range of flows in a natural stream. Moreover, Dr Leenman shows for the first time that hydrograph shape can govern the geomorphic impact of a flood event on an alluvial fan. The figures of the manuscript illustrate this point this remarkably well. In summary, the innovative approach, significant findings, and the contribution it makes to geomorphology and the practical field of fan hazard assessment make this paper led by Dr Anya Leenman an outstanding work deserving of recognition. Its insights into the complex behavior of alluvial fans under varying flood conditions represent a major step forward in geomorphology and hazard assessment.

• Carmine Donatelli (2023)
• Zacchary Larkin (2022)
•  Alvise Finotello (2021)
• Duna Roda-Boulda (2020)
• Nico Batz (2019)
• Edwin Baynes (2018)
• Virginia Ruiz-Villanueva (2017)
• Jeremy Ely (2016)
• Michelle Johnson (2015)
• Ann Rowan (2014)
• Victoria Milner (2013)
• Elisa Vignaga (2012)
• Ian Thrasher (2010)
• Tibi Codilean (2009)
• Alex Whittaker (2008)
• Keith Richardson (2007)

The Mike Kirkby award is given to the best paper published in the BSG’s Journal Earth Surface Processes and Landforms (ESPL), as decided by the ESPL editorial board. The paper is selected from the volume of the journal for the year previous to the Award.

Awarded to the paper by Alexander Neely and Roman DiBiase:
Alexander B. Neely and Roman A. DiBiase (2023) Sediment controls on the transition from debris flow to fluvial channels in steep mountain ranges. doi: 0.1002/esp.5553

Citation: The Michael J Kirkby Award 2024 for the best paper published in Volume 48 of Earth Surface Processes and Landforms is made to Dr.s Alex Neely and Romain DiBiase for their paper entitled: “ Sediment controls on the transition from debris flow to fluvial channels in steep mountain ranges ». The paper contains a masterful compilation of different kinds of data to tease out the drivers of the transition from debris flow dominated to fluvial erosion dominated processes in steep headwater channels. Notably it shows that the transition is not only controlled by a switch from bed failure by mass wasting to fluvial entrainment in the context of inherited long profile slope, but also by rates of sediment supply through its effects on grain-size. The Editorial Board of ESPL was particularly impressed by the convincing evidence and clarity of argument that allowed a fundamental set of conclusions to come from such a messy set of interacting processes.

• Edwin Baynes (2023)
• Rebekah Harries (2022)
• Olivia Steinemann et al (2021)
• Catriona Thompson (2020)
• Joanmarie Del Vecchio (2019)
• Bradley Johnson (2018)
• Stuart Grieve (2017)
• Herve Guillon (2016)
• Liran Goren (2015)
• Clifford Riebe and Darryl Granger (2014)
• Sebastian Doetteri (2013)
• Gary Parker (2012)
• Peter Haff (2011)
• Walter Bertoldi (2010)
• Richard Hindmarsh and Chris Stokes (2009)
• Paul Bishop (2008)

These awards are made upon recommendation by the BSG’s Journal Earth Surface Processes and Landforms (ESPL) Board as a tribute to Fiona Kirkby, who was the Assistant Editor of ESPL from 1978 to 2019. They recognise outstanding contribution to the journal by reviewers. ESPL is, of course, very fortunate to have an extremely large number of excellent reviewers. But, occasionally, we see reviewers who go the extra kilometre in supporting our authors in publishing the very best geomorphological research and want to recognise this.

This years award winners are:

• Dr. Heinrich Bahlburg, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany
  Dr. Constanza Carbonari, University of Florence, Italy
  Dr. Irene Delgado Fernandez, University of Cadiz, Spain
  Dr. Inci Guneralp, Texas A&M University, USA
  Dr. Harrison Martin, California Institute of Technology, USA
  Dr. Nicole Pietrasiak, University of Nevada, USA
  Dr. Charlotte Priddy, University of Aberdeen, UK

2023:

• Katy Burrows, Geosciences Environment Toulouse, France
• Rebecca Hodge, Durham University, UK
• Evan Miles, WSL, Switzerland
• Steffen Mischke, University of Iceland, Iceland
• Annette Patton, University of Oregon, USA
• Simon Stephenson, University of Oxford, UK
• Daniel White , Colorado State University, USA
• Vincent Godard, Aix-Marseille Université, France

2022:

• Dr. Rachel Bosch, Northern Kentucky University, USA
• Dr. Christine Fey, University of Natural Resources, Vienna, Austria
• Dr. Sarah Greenwood,Department of Geological Sciences, University of Stockholm, Sweden
• Dr. Guillaume Piton, INRAE, University of Grenoble, France
• Dr. Anne Sofie Søndergaard, Institute of Physics, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
• Dr. Wei Wang, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, China
• Dr. Laure Guerit,Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, France
• Dr. John Mylroie, Mississippi State University, Geosciences, USA

2021: Jamie Woodward, University of Leeds

2020: Dr. Katie Whitbread, British Geological Survey

The Marjorie Sweeting Dissertation Prize is awarded annually for the best undergraduate geomorphological dissertation (no higher than Level 6) undertaken at a UK university.

The nomination deadline is September 30th every year.

Entries are invited for this annual competition. Applications are assessed by the BSG Outreach and Education sub-committee.

The award (£200 plus funded attendance at the BSG Annual Conference) is presented to the successful nominee at the Annual General Meeting.

Full details of the nomination criteria can be found here.

Awarded to Athena Eftychiou for their dissertation: ‘Investigating the impact of the 2009 Mt Redoubt eruption on the geomorphology and dynamics of Drift River, Cook Inlet, Alaska’ completed while at University College London.

Citation: Athena’s study evaluates the geomorphological response of the Drift River at Cook Inlet, Alaska to the eruption of Mt Redoubt in 2009 by analysing satellite products covering the period between 1995 and 2022. NDVI and NDWI analysis showed that the Drift River was redirected into the neighbouring Rust Slough catchment owing to the meltwater and lahars generated by the eruption. Other impacts included the formation of an alluvial fan and an avulsion node. The study also showed that the system had not returned to a steady-state by 2022. As well as comprehensively documenting this particular case study the work discussed the implications on our understanding of river response and threshold behaviour. This dissertation has collected, analysed and presented a very rich dataset, is very well-written and professionally-illustrated, and makes an original contribution to the field. Athena is fully deserving of this year’s award.

• Tamsin Carpenter (2023)
• Tom Cockbain (2022)
• Jennelle Anderson (2021)
• Aaron Wyld (2020)
• Jessica Kitch (2019)
• Natasha Wallum (2018)
• Caitlin Curry (2017)
•  James Cave (2016)
• Hannah Mallinson (2015)
• Benjamin Chandler (2014)
• Emma Washington (2013)
• Barnaby Bedford (2012)
• Chris Checkley (2011)
• Sophie Brown (2010)
• Alexander Lane (2009)
• Sally Tyldesley (2009)
• Ellen Flint (2008)
• Helen Miller (2008)

Bernie Smith’s enduring impact on geomorphology is evident through the post-graduate students he mentored and inspired. In tribute to Bernie’s dedication to fostering the discipline’s future, the BSG has chosen to commemorate his legacy by establishing the Bernie Smith Postgraduate Award linked to the BSG Annual General Meeting every year.

The Bernie Smith Postgraduate Awards are given to the best poster and talk by a postgraduate at the BSG Annual General Meeting.

The Bernie Smith Award winners from the 2024 BSG Annual General Meeting are:

Best talk: Adam Smith (University College London) – Discovery of lithospheric drip explains topographic rejuvenation of the Uinta Mountains, USA

Best poster: Zareena Khan (Queen Mary University of London) – Global signatures of life in landscapes: magnitude and coherence of animal geomorphic effects

Only members of the BSG can nominate a colleague for an award – not a member? Click here, and click ‘Register’ to join the society

All nominees must be in compliance with BSG Conflict of Interest policy outlined here.

Process for nomination:

1. On the BSG website go into “My Account” and you will see the  “Award Nominations” section listed on the left-hand panel.
2. Select this and it will show the Awards that are open for nomination.
3. You will be asked to supply details of the nominee (including their institution and email address) and a 2000 character statement of nomination – specific requirements for each award is detailed in the individual award categories.

The deadline for nominations is 31 December each year.