British Organic Geochemical Society (BOGS)

Welcome to the British Organic Geochemical Society, or BOGS as it is affectionately known
British Organic Geochemical Society (BOGS)

History of BOGS

The idea behind BOGS was conceived sometime in late 1987 and in February 1988 a letter seeking interest from organic geochemists in the UK was circulated. The signatories of this letter were Drs Wolff (University of Liverpool), Abbott (Newcastle University), McEvoy (then at University of Bangor) and Rowland (Plymouth Polytechnic now University of Plymouth). The idea seemed to meet with general support and the inaugural meeting of BOGS was held in Bangor 13–15 July 1988 and was attended by an enthusiastic band of organic geochemists.

At the inaugural meeting, the above mentioned were elected to Office and remain, to this day, the governing body (for want of a better phrase) of BOGS.

From that auspicious start, the society has continued to flourish and a meeting has been held every year (well almost), the location of which usually fluctuates between the northernmost and the southernmost reaches of the UK and has been held as far north as Aberdeen (1994) and as far south as Bideford (1990) and Plymouth (1993, 1998 and 2003).

Next meeting

We're now looking forward to the 29th meeting (celebrating the 30th anniversary of the first BOGS meeting), 12–13 July 2018, when we will return to Bristol. The meeting will be hosted by the Organic Geochemistry Unit (OGU) and follows the celebrations of 50 years of the OGU on Wednesday 11 July. We hope you can join us in Bristol for both events!

For those of you interested in such matters, further historical information on the development of BOGS and the meetings held so far is available further down this page.

Ideas and suggestions regarding content very welcome.

Become a member

Membership of BOGS is rather laissez-faire... if you're on the mailing list then you're a member! If you are not already a 'fully paid up' member of BOGS, and would like to become one, then all you have to do is contact one of the committee members or the BOGS webmaster Dr Anthony Lewis with your details and they will be added to the mailing list.

The BOGS meetings, 1988–2018

  • 29th meeting, 12–13 July 2018, OGU, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol
  • 28th meeting, 27–28 June 2017, Palaeoenvironmental Change, Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
  • 27th meeting, 13–14 July 2016, Imperial College Organic Geochemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London 
  • 26th meeting, 2–3 July 2015, Biomarkers for Environmental and Climate Science Research Group, School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow
  • 25th meeting, 10–11 July 2014, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University 
  • 24th meeting, 10–11 July 2013, Petroleum and Environmental Geochemistry Group, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University 
  • 23rd meeting, 4–5 July 2012, School of Geography, University of Leeds
  • 22nd meeting,  6–7 July 2011, Department of Geography, Swansea University
  • 21st meeting, 6–7 July 2010, Environmental Geochemistry and Geomicrobiology Group, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester
  • 20th meeting, 7–8 July 2009, Organic Geochemistry Unit (OGU), School of Chemistry, University of Bristol
  • 19th meeting, 1–2 July 2008, The School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
  • 18th meeting, 28–29 June 2006, Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute, Open University
  • 17th meeting, 14–15 July 2005, Organic Biogeochemistry Group, Earth & Ocean Sciences Department, University of Liverpool 
  • 16th meeting, 14–15 July 2004, School of Chemical, Environmental and Mining Engineering, University of Nottingham

  • 15th meeting, 8–9 July 2003, Petroleum and Environmental Geochemistry Group, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth
  • 14th meeting, 2–3 July 2002, Fossil Fuels and Environmental Geochemistry Postgraduate Institute, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
  • 13th meeting, 23–25 July 2001, Department of Geography, University of Wales Swansea, Gregynog
  • 12th meeting, 5–7 July 2000, Organic Geochemistry Unit (OGU), School of Chemistry, University of Bristol
  • 11th meeting, 30 June–2 July 1999, Department of Chemistry, University of York
  • 10th meeting, 15–17 July 1998, Petroleum and Environmental Geochemistry Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth
  • 9th meeting, 8–9 July 1997, Fossil Fuels and Environmental Geochemistry Postgraduate Institute, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
  • 8th meeting, 9–10 July 1996, Environmental Organic Chemistry and Geochemistry Group, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Liverpool
  • 7th meeting, 12–13 July 1995, Organic Geochemistry Unit (OGU), School of Chemistry, University of Bristol
  • 6th meeting, 27–18 July 1994, Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology, University of Aberdeen
  • 5th meeting, 21–23 July 1993, Petroleum and Environmental Geochemistry Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth
  • 4th meeting, 16–18 July 1992, Fossil Fuels and Environmental Geochemistry Postgraduate Institute, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
  • 3rd meeting, 30 August–1 September 1990, Hallsannery Field Centre/Integrated Geochemical Interpretation Ltd, Bideford
  • 2nd meeting, 5–7 September 1989, Environmental Organic Chemistry and Geochemistry Group, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Liverpool
  • 1st meeting, 13–15 July 1988, Department of Oceanography, Bangor University