British Hydrological Society

British Hydrological Society The British Hydrological Society is a learned society focused on hydrology and water resources within the United Kingdom and internationally. It brings together practitioners, researchers and policymakers from institutions such as the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, Cranfield University and the UK Met Office to advance understanding of catchment processes and flood risk. The Society maintains links with engineering bodies like the Institution of Civil Engineers and academic organisations including the Royal Society and the British Geomorphological Research Group.

History

The Society was established in 1983 by professionals associated with organisations such as the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Natural Environment Research Council, the Dryden Centre at University College London and regional groups tied to the River Severn Catchment Management. Early membership included researchers from the University of Birmingham, Newcastle University, University of Leeds, and agencies like the National Rivers Authority and later the Environment Agency (England and Wales). During the 1980s and 1990s the Society engaged with major events and initiatives including responses to the Great Flood of 1947 legacy studies, follow-up work after the Winter Floods of 2000, and European collaborations with bodies such as the European Geosciences Union and the International Association of Hydrological Sciences. Links with professional organisations like the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management supported growth of practitioner networks. Over subsequent decades the Society adapted to emerging themes from climate change research at the Hadley Centre to catchment-based approaches exemplified by pilots in the River Thames and the River Trent basins.

Organisation and Governance

Governance is provided by an elected Council comprising members drawn from universities, consultancies and agencies including Arup (company), Atkins, the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, and statutory bodies such as Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Natural Resources Wales. The President, Vice-Presidents and Honorary Secretary roles have been held by leading figures affiliated with institutions like University of Cambridge, University of Nottingham, and University of East Anglia. The Society operates specialist groups and regional branches aligned with centres of practice in cities including London, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh and Belfast. Funding streams combine membership subscriptions, conference income, and project partnerships with funders such as the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the European Commission. Memoranda of understanding have been established with organisations such as the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Royal Meteorological Society to coordinate standards, training and accreditation activities.

Activities and Programmes

The Society organises technical meetings, national conferences and specialised workshops on topics intersecting with research at institutions like University of Southampton, University of Exeter, and Queen Mary University of London. Regular activities include training courses on hydrological modelling with platforms influenced by work at Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and model intercomparison studies linked to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidance. It convenes thematic panels addressing flood forecasting used by the Environment Agency (England and Wales) and operational river monitoring practises employed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Collaborative programmes include catchment science pilots in partnership with local authorities and stakeholders from Cumbrian flood recovery projects and urban drainage initiatives in Greater Manchester. The Society fosters student chapters and early-career networks connecting graduates from University of Sheffield, University of Reading, and Queen's University Belfast with mentors from consultancies like Mott MacDonald and Jacobs (company).

Publications and Resources

The Society publishes conference proceedings and technical briefing notes, drawing on contributors from journals such as Hydrological Processes, Journal of Hydrology, and Water Resources Research. It curates best-practice guides for hydrological assessment used by practitioners at Natural Resources Wales and by consultancy teams at firms including AECOM. Online resources include recorded lectures, training modules and datasets linked to national hydrometric networks coordinated with the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the Met Office. The Society supports open data initiatives and works with publishers like Wiley and Elsevier to disseminate special issues. It also promotes doctoral and postdoctoral outputs from centres such as the NERC Rapid Climate Change Programme and featured research from laboratories at Lancaster University and University of Glasgow.

Awards and Recognition

The Society confers awards and honours recognising contributions to hydrology, with medals and prizes often named or sponsored by organisations such as the Institution of Civil Engineers, Royal Society affiliated trusts, and corporate partners including Arup (company). Notable recognitions have been conferred on academics and practitioners linked to projects at University of Oxford, Imperial College London and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. Award ceremonies frequently coincide with major conferences attended by representatives of the Environment Agency (England and Wales), Scottish Environment Protection Agency and international delegations from the International Association of Hydrological Sciences. Through its awards the Society highlights advances in flood risk management, hydrological modelling and catchment restoration informed by case studies on the River Severn, River Thames and River Ouse.

Category:Hydrology Category:Learned societies of the United Kingdom