Scott Polar Research InstituteGrants awarded: 2023
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 ongoing support. The members of the Committee who served during the year were Dr L Craig (Chair), Dr N Arnold, Mr R Durbridge, Dr D Goodman, Mrs P Goodman, Mr N Gwynne, Dr M Humphreys, Professor C Imray, Mr O Sanders, Professor R C Schroter, Dr M Tinsley, and Dr F Wensley.
The Committee met remotely on 25th February 2023 and made the following awards:
| Expedition | Report | Description | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Research Group Recherchefjorden Expedition, Svalbard 2022 (postponed from 2022) |
Preliminary report | A multi-disciplinary scientific expedition to Recherchefjorden, south-west Spitsbergen. Small research projects, linked to universities in Norway. | £750 |
| Integrity – Northwest Passage 2023 | Sail a traditionally built wooden boat through the Northwest Passage from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia to Kodiak, Alaska. Practice best seamanship in a traditional style, but with modern safety equipment. Explore low risk mountaineering objectives, particularly in the Torngrat range in Labrador and on Baffin Island. | £7,000 (£5,000 GWMF & £2,000 Arctic Club) |
|
| Exploratory Climbing in Canada's North: A human powered expedition to the Coronation Glacier | Preliminary report | To establish first ascents of big wall free climbs. Complete an all-female first ascent in the Arctic in as human powered a way as possible, by traveling 70km by inflatable sea kayak followed by 12 km of glacier travel by foot to basecamp. | £6,000 (£5,000 GWMF & £1,000 Arctic Club) |
| Svalbard 2023 | Preliminary report | To assess the impacts of climate change on Longyearbreen, Svalbard, and its wider catchment. | £4,000 (£3,000 GWMF & £1,000 Arctic Club) |