The British Carbon Group (BCG) is a special-interest group of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Institute of Physics, and Society of Chemical Industry. We currently have around 300 members, representing the carbon research community primarily in the UK but also overseas.

Overview

The Brian Kelly Award (est. 1996) commemorates Brian Kelly, a leading authority on graphite physics. The award supports students and early-career researchers (≤10 years post-doc) to attend the World Conference on Carbon – Carbon 2026. Brian’s book The Physics of Graphite is available for download on the BCG website.

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Eligibility (read carefully)

• Applicants must be students or early-career researchers (≤10 years postdoctoral experience).
• The award supports attendance at Carbon 2026.
• Not eligible: Anyone living or working in the host country at the time of the conference.
  → For 2026, applications from the USA will not be accepted.
• Self-nomination is permitted.

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What to submit (3 documents)

1. Conference abstract (as submitted to Carbon 2026).
2. Short CV (include the date of PhD award, if applicable).
3. Commentary from your supervisor or close colleague.

The BCG Award Committee will review applications and determine the recipient.

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Award

• £1,500 travel grant
• Presented at the conference with a certificate
• Condition: the winner must attend and present their work (oral or poster).

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Deadline

Midnight, 1 May 2026 (UK time).

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How to apply

Send your three documents electronically to:
Cristina Valles – Chair, Brian Kelly Award Committee
📧 cristina.valles@manchester.ac.uk

Please use the subject line: “BCG Brian Kelly Award 2026 – Your Name”

Download: The Physics of Graphite (Brian Kelly)

The British Carbon Group is a special interest group of the Royal Society of Chemistry , the Institute of Physics and the Society of Chemical Industry devoted to the advancement of carbon science. It is also a member of the European Carbon Association.

Members of the three host organisations can join the British Carbon Group through their institute memberships (RSC here, IoP here, SCI here), others can join by contacting the committee directly.

The Carbon Group was originally formed in 1965 as a Subject Group of The Institute of Physics. In 1977 the Group became the Joint Carbon Group of The Institute of Physics and the Royal Society of Chemistry. Since January 1994 the Group has been joined with the Industrial Carbon and Graphite Group of The Society of Chemical Industry and is known as The British Carbon Group.

In addition to physicists and chemists, the Group welcomes professional members from other disciplines with an interest in carbon and is attracting interest from scientists working in Europe and elsewhere internationally.  The group has strong links with other Carbon associations around the world, and has organised the international Carbon conference on several occasions.

Diamond Days : Introduction to the British Carbon Group (2009)
Information from the Royal Society of Chemistry concerning the BCG
Information from the Institute of Physics concerning the BCG
Information from the Society of Chemical Industry concerning the BCG

 

Membership of The British Carbon Group is open to all those with an interest in any aspect of carbon and carbonaceous materials. Those who already are Members, Associates or Fellows of one of our sponsoring bodies (The Royal Society of Chemistry, The Institute of Physics or The Society of Chemical Industry) can automatically become members of The British Carbon Group by ticking the appropriate “box” on their annual membership renewal form, and paying a small additional fee with their subscription to cover postages etc.

Others may join as Subscribing Members on payment of an annual fee which is currently 10 pounds.

Further details may be obtained from The Honorary Treasurer, Dr. Natalia Martsinovich

All Members receive an occasional Carbon Newsletter (approximately twice per year) and also receive reduced fees for all scientific meetings sponsored or co-sponsored by the Group. There is no specific student membership, but bona fide students may apply for bursary to assist their attendance at conferences both in the UK and overseas.