The 'Go Beyond' Bursary 2012 was officially launched at the annual Explore weekend of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), one of Land Rover's six Global Humanitarian and Conservation Partners, on Friday 18 Nov 2011.

The Land Rover 'Go Beyond' Bursary is run by the Society, on behalf of Land Rover, offering funding and the use of a Defender 110 vehicle. The award is aimed at those who want to take a journey beyond their limits and boundaries, that offers challenges for the team and for which a Land Rover Defender 110 is an integral part of the expedition.

Mark Cameron, Global Brand Extension Director for Land Rover said; "It gives me great pleasure, in not only announcing the launch of the 'Go Beyond' Bursary 2012, but for the first time, to announce the trebling of the total amount of Land Rover funding.

"Hopefully, this will enable the winning Bursary team to match the vehicles' 'Go Anywhere' philosophy and allow them to adventure further afield than ever before."

Paul Rose, Vice President of Expeditions & Fieldwork, RGS-IBG added;  "The Land Rover 'Go Beyond' Bursary offers recipients an amazing opportunity to take a journey to promote a wider understanding and enjoyment of people, places and environments. "

"With the use of a Land Rover Defender 110, you can really get off the beaten track and make the most of the vehicle's capabilities in remote terrain and in demanding environments, helping to turn ideas for challenging and inspiring geographical journeys into a reality."

The journey may connect the team with schools, local communities or projects but, whatever its aim, the team will be expected to inspire and engage others, both from the field and on return.

A bursary of £15,000 is available and in addition applicants can apply for a discretionary fund of up to £15,000 to support essential expedition-related costs. The application deadline is 3 February 2012 and interviews will take place in London, in March 2012. To apply, please visit; www.rgs.org/GoBeyond

Past 'Go Beyond' Bursary winners Atlantic Rising (2009) were present at the launch of the Explore weekend on the Friday evening, giving a lecture to prospective Bursary applicants and the Glacier in the Greenhouse (2011) team were presenting on the Saturday afternoon.  Land Rover Experience (LRE) also had a presence, with Sarah Batten (LRE Lead Instructor) providing sound expert advice in the 'Vehicle Dependent Expeditions' workshop and the LRE stand offering guidance and tips for potential explorers.

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) is one of six Global Humanitarian & Conservation Partners with Land Rover which forms part of an integrated approach to sustainability and sits within Land Rovers' Our Planet.

Going Beyond: Advice from the Field (PDF) offers tips on expedition planning, as well as sharing highlights and images of life in the field by the four teams who have cumulatively travelled across five continents and more than 100,000kms supported by the Land Rover bursary to 'Go Beyond'.

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Media Enquiries:

• WaiLo Li, Press Officer for Land Rover Global Humanitarian & Conservation Partnerships  +44 (0)7557847561 orwli@jaguarlandrover.com 

• Dr Steven Toole FRGS, Policy and Public Affairs Manager for Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) +44 (0)20 7591 3008 or s.toole@rgs.org

Notes to Editors:

• The Global Humanitarian & Conservation Partnerships forms part of an integrated approach to sustainability and sit within Land Rovers' Our Planet. (www.landrover.com/ourplanet )

• Land Rover has six Global Humanitarian & Conservation Partners including; International Federation of Red Cross  and Red Crescent Societies  (IFRC), Born Free Foundation, Biosphere Expeditions, China Exploration & Research Society (CERS),  Earthwatch Institute and Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

• Land Rover has established a global network of centres designed to provide the ultimate driving experience in the world's most capable all-terrain vehicles. Land Rover Experience offers drivers the terrain to demonstrate the awesome capability of a state-of-the-vehicle and the chance to learn new skills, as well as tackling some of the most challenging terrain drivers will ever encounter. Our Driving Adventures cater for all levels of ability. For more information, please visit; www.landrover.com

• Land Rover Expeditions (part of Land Rover Experience) are a series of premium adventure holidays designed and run by Land Rover, which visit unique locations far from established tourist trails. These luxurious driving experiences enable guests to indulge in the stunning scenery, landscapes and culture in the finest style. Expect plenty of awe-inspiring locations and exciting off-road driving throughout. For more information, please visit; www.landroverexpeditions.com/

• The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) is the learned society and professional body for geography. Formed in 1830, our Royal Charter of 1859 is for 'the advancement of geographical science'. Today, we deliver this objective by developing, supporting and promoting geographical research through scientific expeditions and fieldwork, education, and public engagement, while also providing geographical input to policy. We aim to foster an understanding and informed enjoyment of our world. We hold the world's largest private geographical collection and provide public access to it. We have a thriving Fellowship and membership and offer the professional accreditation 'Chartered Geographer'. For more information please visit:  www.rgs.org

• An important way in which the Society develops new knowledge and advances geographical science is by providing funding for geographical research and scientific expeditions. Grants support work in the UK and across all seven continents. Over 90 grants and in excess of £180,000 are awarded annually to experienced researchers working on cutting-edge projects and to teams of young, passionate geographers who are looking to get out into the field for the first time. Research has been conducted in more than 120 countries, from Namibia to Brazil to Greenland. For more information please visit:   www.rgs.org/grants

• The annual RGS-IBG expedition and fieldwork planning weekend ran from 18 - 20 November 2011, with over 90 leading field-scientists and explorers provide inspiration, contacts and advice over the course of this unique weekend. The Explore weekend encompassed a series of lectures, workshops and exhibits to help explorers organise their own expedition or field research projects in a variety of environments and disciplines.

• From undergraduates undertaking their first field research to more experienced individuals who want to share their experiences and plan even more, the Explore weekend has been the starting point for hundreds of exciting journeys and fieldwork projects, providing inspiration, contacts and, most importantly, practical advice.

• This year's Explore weekend was chaired by explorer and broadcaster Paul Rose, Vice President of the Society, who was also on hand to provide advice. Speaker topics include; an expedition across Iceland to study remote glaciers, environmental fieldwork in Mozambique studying giant elephant shrews, and journeying the length of the Amazon River.  The full Explore 2011 programme (PDF), including speakers and topics is available to download.

Past 'Go Beyond' Bursary winners include;

• 2011: Glacier in a Greenhouse
  They departed on 15 August 2011 to study remote ice plateaux, a previously inaccessible glacier in Central West Iceland which has not been researched for over 15 years.

• 2010: Fault Line Living
  An arduous 12-week, 15,000 mile journey exploring the realities of life for people living along fault lines. From Iceland to Italy, Greece, Turkey and Iran. The team worked with school students, seismologists and talked to the local people of each country to uncover how different communities adapt to the challenges of fault line living.

• 2009: Atlantic Rising
  Atlantic Rising's journey traced what could be the new coastline of the ocean following sea level rise exploring the places, people and histories that would be lost to the rising tide if climate change continues. The team developed a programme of talks to both adults and school students. For more information please visit; http://atlanticrising.org/

• 2008: Latitude
  Latitude, who travelled in a Land Rover Defender along the line of 50° North across Europe through Asia and Canada.