Founded in 1835, the British Geological Survey (BGS) is the world’s oldest national geological survey and the United Kingdom’s premier centre for earth science information and expertise. It provides objective and authoritative geoscientific data, information and knowledge for wealth creation, sustainable use of natural resources, reducing risk and living with the impacts of environmental change. The BGS advances understanding of the structure, properties and processes of the solid Earth system through interdisciplinary surveys, monitoring and research for the benefit of society.
As a public sector organisation BGS is responsible for advising the UK government on all aspects of geoscience as well as providing impartial geological advice to industry, academia and the public.
The BGS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which is the UK’s main agency for funding and managing research, training, and knowledge exchange in the environmental sciences. The NERC reports to the UK government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). We also undertake an extensive programme of overseas research, surveying and monitoring, including major institutional strengthening programmes in the developing world.
Our annual turnover is in the region of £45m, about 50 per cent of which comes from NERC’s Science Budget, with the remainder coming from commissioned research from the public and private sectors.
Our headquarters are at Keyworth, near Nottingham, and we have a regional offices at Edinburgh, Wallingford, London and Cardiff. The BGS also has a presence in Belfast through the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland.
BGS Geodiversity contacts:
Edinburgh – Hugh Barron hfb@bgs.ac.uk
Keyworth – Keith Ambrose kam@bgs.ac.uk
Cardiff – Rhian Kendall rhnd1@bgs.ac.uk
Belfast – Kirstin Lemon klem@bgs.ac.uk
BGS enquiries enquiries@bgs.ac.uk
BGS geodiversity links:
Scotland: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/ukgeology/scottishGeodiversity.html
Wales: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/ukgeology/walesGeoconservation.html
Northern Ireland: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/ukgeology/northernIreland.html
Building stones: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/buildingStones/home.html
Minerals: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/planning4minerals/Geodiversity_1.htm
Scotland's Geodiversity Charter 