Annual review 2015 The Society Vision Society objectives The leading learned and professional The Royal Geographical Society (with body for geography in the world, widely IBG) exists for ‘the advancement of respected for its independence, quality, geographical science’. For the current innovation and for the breadth of its strategy, 2012-2016, this purpose activities promoting and supporting has been expressed as six strategic geography as the means for everyone objectives of the organisation. The to discover, understand and respect aims concern sustaining and promoting the world’s people, places and the discipline, advancing and sharing environments. knowledge and understanding, and enabling professional and student Mission communities of geography practitioners. A world centre for geography and In doing so, the Society also aims to geographical learning dedicated grow its own reputation, enhance its to the development and promotion membership and ensure sustainability of knowledge together with its for the future. application to the challenges facing society and the environment. The Society’s work is organised into thematic departments, each of which Registered Charity 208791 contributes work to several objectives. The Society is a charity that exists for public benefit and which also has a broad-based membership that supports its mission and aims. The 1 Society was recognised in 2013 as the leading scholarly geographical society in the world. 1 International Benchmarking Review of UK Human Geography 2013 Nicholas Crane From the President President There is only one organisation and members who are students, have a rigorous operational plan. The on Earth devoted so effectively to politicians, engineers, academics and five-year strategy is monitored through supporting and promoting so many those – like myself 30 years ago – who annual plans with targets and reviewed key areas of geography. I’ve always have joined because one of geography’s outcomes. During the three, short years felt that my RGS-IBG sub was a very many facets is its ability to bring together that I’m President, I’ll be focussing my modest contribution to the future of people of all backgrounds who share an attention on retaining (and hopefully this miraculous blue planet and now interest in the world, its places, people increasing) the Society’s membership that I’m a trustee, I’ve joined the and environments. and on exploring ways of spreading Society’s 2,800 volunteers and can the work of the RGS-IBG more widely Among the highlights of my first half-year give my time, too. among the regions of England, Wales as President have been Society speaking and Northern Ireland. I’m also looking Finding myself President is an immense dates in Exeter, Birmingham and Bury forward to the collective process of honour. It’s also brought a few surprises. St Edmunds, and the 21st Century planning the next strategy, which will During my thirty-plus years as a Fellow, Challenges events in London, where run from 2017 through to 2021. I’ve been inspired by countless lectures, topics including climate and cities were attended special events like the annual debated. I was also lucky enough to I’d like to thank the many RGS-IBG Explore weekend and joined in with take part in the closing event of the Fellows and members who have made Society activities to promote learning two-year programme, Rediscovering me so welcome as President, and to and initiative among young people. As London’s Geography, where I was thank you all for your continuing support a writer, I’ve found the library invaluable, able to meet and talk with many of of the Society. and I have known what it feels like to the teachers and pupils who took part. stand quaking on the stage in Kensington The Explore weekend was – as ever – and deliver one of the fabled Monday a festival of geographical inspiration night lectures. and in November I was part of the team hosting HRH The Princess Royal and I thought I knew the Society fairly well, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence when they but in my first six months as President, opened the Enduring Eye exhibition. I’ve been amazed by the breadth of engagement with the world of geography: The last six months have also with the public and government, with the introduced me to the inner workings of various specialist communities within this remarkable organisation. With so research, expeditions and fieldwork, many initiatives covering such a broad, and with education. I’ve met Fellows geographical span, the Society has to 2/3 Dr Rita Gardner CBE From the Director Director The Society ends 2015 well with excellent the first time in digitised, intricate detail. appointed and venue hire income feedback on our activities, professionalism It was a privilege to have the exhibition increased substantially. and warm welcome; good staff morale; opened by HRH The Princess Royal. Throughout, our strategy provided the valued by the communities we serve; A small policy team was appointed development framework and we ended and with a modest budget surplus. to develop the Society’s knowledge 2015 in line with the business plan. With Geography ends 2015 in a better ‘place’ exchange activities. In education thanks to donors, just under £2.4m was than any time in the past 20 years: we focused on supporting secondary raised or committed to support specific a strong position in higher education; teachers with the new curriculum developments in 2015 and beyond.We rapid growth in school uptake at content, including a new project on data also saw incremental enhancements GCSE and A Level; recognition of skills in geography. This followed the across many other areas of our work. the importance of fieldwork; and completion of five years’ work advising the With a relatively small team of 58 increasingly valued by employers, the Department for Education, and Ofqual, dedicated staff, it is extraordinary what public and students. Much of that is the on developing the new geography the Society achieves through effort, result of the Society working together curriculum and examinations. focus and value for money. Having no with its communities over many years. The benchmarking of research and core funding from government enables 2015 had some remarkable highs teaching of physical geography in a healthy independence, reinforces the and a few challenges. Memorable UK universities was started. The core need for careful attention to meeting highlights – among many – were the funding required for the Society’s income targets and prudent spending, two major exhibitions. The fully updated collaborative international Field Research and encourages a spirit of innovation. Britain from the Air exhibition in Leeds Programme – Migrants on the margins We are also most grateful for the appealed to a wide demographic. Tens – was put in place, enabling a start in commitment of some 2,800 volunteers, of thousands of people were informed 2016. It was also particularly rewarding in very many different roles, including and inspired by the images and stories to see the Society’s press and media the trustees; and for the support of of Britain’s environment, economy and coverage return to full strength. c.16,000 Fellows and members. They society found in our landscapes. The main challenge was the need to all aided the Society’s work as the Quite different, and as well received, re-organise the management of our learned society and professional the centenary Shackleton exhibition, facilities in central London, on which body for geography. And that work, Enduring Eye, celebrated the UK’s we depend heavily for our functions we estimate, impacted some three Antarctic heritage. It brought to the and as a source of venue hire income. million people in 2015. public gaze the Society’s historic A new staff structure was implemented, collection of Hurley images, seen for a permanent facilities manager 4/5 1 Geography Promoting and sustaining a vibrant discipline Objective Represent, promote After three years of steady growth in student numbers at school and entering and advocate for geography as a university, geography in 2015 was in a better position than at any time in the leading discipline, so that it is seen as engaging and useful by the public preceding two decades. It is a vibrant discipline and the Society is recognised and it maintains a strong position as an effective and sought out advocate for it. in education, research, fieldwork and expeditions, and in informing In particular 1.1 Making the case for geography policy and business. Over the past five years, the Society has • A new policy team with a focus on Context Major changes are played an instrumental role in the review of underway in the UK in school and knowledge exchange was established geography in the national curriculum (Key higher education, in the funding in order to increase the effectiveness of research, and in the shaping of Stages 1 to 3); and at GCSE and A Level. In of the Society’s work in promoting and national policy. If geography is to February 2015, the Department for Education sustain its strong position and fulfil demonstrating the value of geographical (DfE) approved the subject content criteria its full potential it needs an effective research as well as enhancing the networks champion, ensuring decision makers for A Level geography after receiving advice between researchers, practitioners and the and others understand its relevance from the A Level Content Advisory Board and contribution. Geography has policy community. an essential role in the 21st century. (ALCAB), of which the Society was a member. It is the spatial discipline that • The Society’s advocacy of the importance One important outcome from the Society’s helps everyone understand our of geography in schools over several years advocacy with the DfE and Ofqual was the world – its places, people and culminated in a geography curriculum that inclusion of an independent investigation in environments.