The British Society for Geomorphology (BSG), established as the British
Geomorphological Research Group (BGRG) in 1960, is considering how best
to represent geomorphology and geomorphologists in the light of recent
changes in the nature of communication. These changes provide the BSG
and other academic societies with challenges and opportunities. Seven
drivers of communication change are outlined: the changing position of
geomorphology in higher education, the nature of academic interaction,
the means of communication available, a transformation in the nature of
geomorphological research, changes in funding support, the government
role in resource allocation, and developments in quantifying
international research impact. Challenges arising from changing
communications are identified as occurring beyond the `academy', in the
nature of publication within the `academy', and associated with meetings
of the `academy'. Although national societies now have to contemplate
significantly different purposes to provide for their members than in
the twentieth century, there are opportunities available that cannot be
fulfilled by international organizations alone. Copyright (c) 2013 John
Wiley & Sons, Ltd.