2012: Britrock forms

An informal "rock deformation network" grouping is created when the current chair returned from ETH Zurich to the UK, to share and discuss matters of mutual interest.

2015: The 11th EURO conference & TSG affiliation

The 11th EURO-conference generated a surplus, putting  the group on a positive finacial footing, overseen by a formal tie-up with the Tectonic Studies Group, a special interest group of the Geological Society of London.

EPOS: The group continues to work on behalf of UK research

Currently our main program is to support the Implementation Phase of the European Plate Observing System (EPOS) via Work Package 16: multi-scale laboratories. See the 'projects' tab to learn more.

The UK Rock Deformation Network

Otherwise known as 'BritRock', the network was formed in 2012 as a way for researchers involved in rock deformation, rock mechanics and rock physics, to share ideas, tips and procedures for their laboratory-based research.

Anyone involved in experimental rock mechanics and rock deformation research knows it can often be frustrating, with many items of equipment and experimental protocol based on bespoke designs and often derived from a unique blend of luck, experience, and determination. Partly because of this, the UK rock physics community has long been collegiate and collaborative, with members sharing ideas and tips amongst themselves.

The idea and central goal of the UK rock deformation network, known as BritRock, is to place this philosphy on a semi-formal setting and to offer a forum for sharing everything from good labratory practice, to designing new high pressure equipment for rock deofrmation research. The network does not in itself apply for or distibute funds, and nor is is a research group or legal entity: we are simply a collection of like-minded members of the academic community who meet occasionally - often tagged onto international conferences - to share ideas. The group additionally tries to meet annually at one of the members institutions for a more focussed meeting (most recently in Liverpool).