Our conference is over, but there is little time to rest. October-December is a key time to invest in our growing network of University Groups. Today we share a little bit about their purpose, leadership and how to start the process of launching a new one in YOUR university…
GfGD University Groups are a key way of outworking our objectives to (i) promote the collective and individual responsibility of geoscientists to engage in international development and (ii) equip students to do this effectively and sustainably. Our vision is that young geologists would be engaging with such work throughout their careers, a long-term commitment. Groups give students the opportunity to get started – meeting together and exploring key issues, careers and skills. They often organise seminars and discussion groups so that students can hear from professionals working within development. They give students the opportunity to learn, be inspired and get involved in a range of programmes organised centrally (e.g., placements, conferences, writing of resources).
University Group Locations
Currently we have well-established University Groups in a number of UK based institutions, including Cambridge, Imperial College London, Leicester, Leeds, Oxford and University College London. We are also working with a number of other universities in the UK and Republic of Ireland to establish and develop new groups. In Plymouth, GfGD’s Director visited to give a talk a couple of weeks ago and had a great response from students and staff. Over the coming weeks we’ll be working with students to get a group established and fully functioning. We are also very pleased to be launching our first international group at Trinity College Dublin, in the very capable hands of Eilis Cunningham. Finally, we have had a number of expressions of interest in starting a group in Southampton – and will be exploring this possibility in the coming weeks.
Tomorrow, Joel Gill (GfGD’s Director) will be giving a talk at the University of Liverpool about the role of geology in international development and our responsibility to get involved in such work. The talk (4.30pm in the Herdman Lecture Theatre, Liverpool) will also invite students to consider setting up a new university group in this important UK department.
University Group Ambassadors
Each university group is run by one or two student ambassadors. Their role is to…
- Establish and promote these groups within relevant departments and the wider university.
- Develop and manage a programme of activities that support our overall objectives. These often take the form of seminars, but also include discussion forums, fundraising and promotional events.
- Circulate information and advertise opportunities from the GfGD leadership team, including our newsletter, opportunities to get involved in placements and the production of resources, and conference information.
Credit: Geology for Global Development, 2013
We are very fortunate to have worked with some excellent students over the past couple of years, getting groups established in the universities mentioned above – and working hard to deliver some great seminars and opportunities for students. Without the time, energy and creativity of these individuals our work would not be possible.
Starting A New University Group
Over the next couple of years we would like to establish University Groups (or branches/chapters) in universities across the UK and Republic of Ireland. If you are based at a university that does not currently have a group and would like to be help establish one, please get in contact us via our website – www.gfgd.org/contact-gfgd. Please note, we are not currently able to establish groups outside of the UK/Republic of Ireland – however many of our activities and opportunities (competitions, production of resources, conferences etc) are open to young geologists from across the world.
