The Royal Scottish Geographical Society

In 1998 grants totalling £4,900 were awarded to the expeditions listed below.

If the name-heading of an expedition is highlighted as a hyperlink, then clicking on it will provide details of any reports or other documentation held by RSGS.

The Ocean Youth Club Challenge Voyage 1998
Allowing young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to experience the thrills and learn the skills of ocean seafaring is the object of RSGS support for the Ocean Youth Club.   Members sailed on board the yacht Taikoo.   The purpose of the Challenge voyage was to give the most committed young people in the organisation the opportunity to develop their skills in order that they might become the future mates for the OYC, whilst developing their confidence, self esteem, and sense of responsibility along the way.

Iceland '98
Peebles High School mounted an expedition to the wilderness of Iceland in the summer of 1998.   The expedition provided a team of adults and young people with the opportunity for challenge, adventure, and scientific study.   The expedition challenged the individual educationally, socially, and physically, stimulated and developed environmental understanding, and contributed to the appreciation of the value of wilderness in a global context.

Breidamerkurjokull Project '98
The Breidamerkujokull project (a joint project between the Universities of Glasgow, Loughborough, and Queen's Belfast) carried out surveys in this area of SE Iceland.   The aim of the expedition was to compile an accurate map and paelaeographic reconstructions of the receding Breidamerkurjokull glacial snout, and to describe its proglacial geomorphology and surficial geology.

Raleigh International Youth Development Programme
The Youth Development Programme is a unique programme run within Raleigh International, specifically aimed at helping young people from 'at risk' backgrounds, who would never, without its help, have the opportunity to experience life as intrepid Venturers.

Iceland Expedition 1998
The purpose of the Dundee University expedition was to undertake a programme of scientific research in the Myrdalsjokull Icecap region of Southern Iceland, and to establish long-term links with local scientists.   The main scientific objective was to gather further information on glacial dynamics and landscape change through time, and the expansion of scientific knowledge for both local and global applications.

Guyana Expedition '98
The Mary Erskine School and Stewart Melville Expedition to Guyana, organised by World Challenge Expeditions, undertook a major overland trek through the northern rainforest of South America to the Kaiteur Falls.   The group undertook a detailed study of the development of lateritic soils and associated vegetation, as well as a study of the social geography of two different communities in Guyana.

High Andes Snow Ablation Survey 1998
A team from Edinburgh University carried-out a novel high-altitude glaciological survey.   The aim was to make a detailed study of the processes associated with the formation of 'penitentes', a form of ice and snow ablation that occurs under narrow meteorological and radiative conditions.   The study focused on small plots where the evolution of the snow and related micro-meteorological observations were recorded.

Fulcrum Challenge - Ladakh 1998
Twenty pupils from schools all over Scotland were selected to take part in the 1998 Fulcrum Venture - Scotland to Ladakh.   The team travelled to Puga Valley, a grassy plain with a small sacred stream, sulphur springs and geysers.   They visited Sumdu, a village of Tibetan refugees, and worked with the local children.   It was also hoped to cross the two highest navigable passes in the world by road.   The aim of the overseas phase was all about cultural exchange, that is, introducing young people to a similar age group in remote areas of the world.   "Investing in the business and social leaders of the future" is the aim of the Fulcrum Challenge.

Peru 1998
A team from Harlaw Academy visited and studied remote Peruvian communities, looking specifically at the environment, lifestyles, and 20th century influences.   The visit included a community challenge and a physical challenge.   The community challenge was developed by involving the pupils in an aid project, while the physical challenge was achieved by trekking along the Inca Trail.