Hydrogeological Group of the Geological Society of London
Whitaker Medal
The Whitaker Medal is awarded in memory of the distinguished geologist William Whitaker, and was first awarded by the Institution of Water Engineers in 1930 to R.C.S. Walters for his paper on the hydrogeology of the Chalk in England.
Since that time, the Institution and its successors awarded the Medal over 30 times across a period of seven decades. Since 1996, the Hydrogeological Group of the Geological Society has awarded the medal most years in recognition of an outstanding contribution to hydrogeology.
Criteria
The Whitaker Medal will be awarded in recognition for long-term contribution to the Hydrogeological Community. Successful nominees are likely to be well known names within their sphere of hydrogeology who have provided support to the community in different ways over many years, but don’t necessarily have to be approaching retirement!
Examples of what is considered significant long term contribution:
- Working in one particular arena of hydrogeology for most of a career and being recognised as an “expert” in that arena
- Long term contribution in the field of academia undertaking research, contributing to developing novel technologies or analytical techniques, guiding generations of students into the field of hydrogeology
Working within the regulatory environment either on numerous nationally significant projects, providing hydrogeological technical support to a specific area of regulation such as permitting or supporting / developing the continued understanding of hydrogeology in a specific geographical region.
Younger Medal
First awarded in 2022, the Younger medal is dedicated to our late colleague Professor Paul Younger. Paul, who died in 2018, was a great influence to many people in our professional community.
The Hydrogeological Group felt that a new medal, in recognition of outstanding contribution to the hydrogeological community, would be a fitting way to remember him.
Criteria
The Younger Medal will be awarded in recognition of a specific activity, or series of related activities over a short duration, that has / have made a meaningful hydrogeological contribution to the wider community. Examples of such meaningful contributions may include:
- Authorship of a landmark paper or a book (either educational or a research volume)
- Key role in bringing hydrogeology to the wider community (e.g. work in overseas development of education)
- Development of a significant new piece of equipment or new technique
- Turnkey hydrogeological involvement within a project to solve a major problem, overcome a regulatory hurdle or provide protection to a vulnerable receptor.
It is expected that successful recipients could be at any stage within their career and the award is likely to recognise a specific piece of work undertaken in the relatively recent past.
General notes
- Nominations should be made on the Whitaker Medal nomination form (Word file) or the Younger Medal nomination form (Word file).
- Those nominated do not have to be Fellows of the Society and nor does the work for which the nominee is recognised need to be UK focussed.
- The Awards Committee relies on the proposers to check the accuracy of the supporting information.
- By signing the nomination form, the proposers are confirming that, to the best of their knowledge, the details given in support of a nomination for an award are accurate.
- Nominations for either the Whitaker or Younger medal would not necessarily preclude nomination for the other.
- The proposer and seconder must not be from the same institution as the nominee. However, the nominee and one of the proposers may be from the same institution. For the Whitaker Medal, the nominee must not have received it previously.
- All sections of the nomination form must be completed including the brief statement of no more than 500 words on why the nominee merits the award. The form must not exceed one page. Attachments will not be considered. The form must be signed and dated. Electronic signatures are acceptable. For readability the nomination form must be typed in font Arial 10 point and must be submitted as a Word file.
- Unsuccessful applicants will not be notified by HGC of their nomination so to avoid potential disappointment and, similarly, the nominees should not be informed that they are being nominated by the nominators.
Completed nomination forms should be sent to the secretary of the Hydrogeological Group Committee at the following email address: info@hydrogroup.org.uk