Young Researchers' Forum (YRF)

The Young Researchers' Forum (YRF) is designed to bring together research students and other research workers in their early years of applying GIS in their home disciplines, or who are researching principles which form foundations for GIS

This is achieved through facilitated discussion groups and plenary presentations, covering topics including current research issues, publication, research funding, spatial data issues and career development. Discussion groups are facilitated by mentors of standing in the wider GIS community, including YRF plenary session speakers. In recent years, mentors and speakers have included Nick Chrisman, Pete Fisher, Pip Forer, Chris Gold, David Maguire, Waldo Tobler and Dave Unwin. Some topics have been presented by the non-academic GIS community, for example, by representatives of the Ordnance Survey and John Wiley & Sons (Publishers).

Care is taken to ensure that presentations acknowledge the world context in which GIS research is undertaken and the YRF has drawn attendance from many European countries, in addition to Ireland and the UK.

The YRF is designed for people beginning research studentships leading to doctoral awards but is also suitable for Masters students considering a research career and for people in industry at a similar stage in their careers. Attendance has been acknowledged as a part of the research student's training programme by several universities.

The YRF generally lasts one day, starting after lunch on the day before GISRUK and finishing with lunch immediately prior to GISRUK itself. It is expected that YRF participants will also be attending GISRUK, and may include some who have had presentations accepted for GISRUK. Registration for the YRF is handled alongside GISRUK registration.