Scott Polar Research InstituteGrants awarded: 2019
The Gino Watkins Memorial Fund, under the joint trusteeship of the University of Cambridge and the Royal Geographical Society, gives grants towards expeditions that meet its objectives of guiding and inspiring enterprising people towards scientific research and exploration in the polar regions.
The Committee of Managers of the Fund would like to thank the Augustine Courtauld Trust for their generous contribution of £9,000. The members of the Committee who served during the year were Dr L Craig (Chair), Professor J Dowdeswell, Mr R Durbridge, Mr D Fordham, Dr D Goodman, Mr N Gwynne, Dr M Humphreys, Professor M Lea, Mr R Page, Professor R C Schroter, Dr M Tinsley, and Dr F Wensley.
The Committee met on the 23rd February 2019 and made the following awards:
|
Expedition |
Report |
Description |
Award |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ARG Bockfjorden, Svalbard 2019 |
Final report |
A multi-disciplinary scientific expedition by the Arctic Research Group to Bockfjord, north-west Spitsbergen. |
£500 |
|
Renland, Greenland, 2019 |
Final report |
A four-member expedition travelling to Renland, a peninsula on the East coast of Greenland to make the first ascent of two previously unclimbed peaks |
£3,000 + £3,000 Arctic Club = £6,000 |
|
Sisterhood of Adventure, 2019 |
Final report |
Kite ski crossing of Greenland |
£1,500 |
|
Green-X, 2019 |
Preliminary report |
Kite ski crossing from Kangerlussuaq, Southern Greenland, to Qaanaaq, North Eastern Greenland whilst leaving zero environmental impact |
£2,000 + £3,000 Arctic Club = £5,000 |
|
Greenland self-supported 'Sail to Climb' expedition, 2019 |
Final report |
To explore the potential for new climbing routes, including those on sea cliffs, on Greenland's west coast from a 32ft yacht |
£3,000 + £3,000 Arctic Club = £6,000 Simpson Award |
|
North Jameson Land, Greenland, Summer 2019 |
Final report |
To explore the North Jameson Land area from a drop-off point at the head of Permdal. |
£500 |
|
Arctic Connections, Norway, 2019 |
Final report |
Unsupported ski expedition across the Finnmark Plateau in Arctic Norway, shadowing a family of Sami reindeer herders and making educational documentary in the process |
£2,000 |
|
Baffin Paddle/Climb 2019, Canada |
Final report |
To make first ascents on big walls in Akshayuk Pass, to make the third descent of the Weasel River and to engage meaningfully with the local community |
£4,000 |
|
Retracing the Scott Polar Research Institute's 1932 Vatnajokull Expedition, Iceland |
Postponed |
To use new technologies to investigate and document the changes in the intervening period whilst retracing the 1932 expedition. |
£2,500 |
|
University of St Andrews Tugtutoq Alkaline Giant Dyke Mapping and Research Expedition, Greenland, 2019 |
Final report |
To improve the understanding of alkaline igneous systems, both for geological knowledge and for the development of better and more environmentally friendly practices in the mining industry. |
£2,500 |
|
Return to Vatnajokull, Iceland, April 2019 |
Final report |
To retrace the footsteps of the 1932 Cambridge Expedition and collect data using modern techniques to gain an insight into how the environment has changed in the intervening period |
£2,500 |