Land Rover's 'Go Beyond' Bursary 2012 Launch At Royal Geographical Society (With IBG)

LONDON – Nov 21, 2011: 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.

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.