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. Without it, people would struggle to grasp how social, enables young people to have a more the new A Level, ensuring that geography economic and environmental informed understanding of some of the students are able to develop their field and processes bring about change big geographical issues and to learn from research skills and be better prepared for in communities, places and regions; and how to manage fieldwork embedded in the curriculum. university and employment. a sustainable future. • The Society continued to be sought after The revised A Level criteria also introduced to become involved in advisory bodies and to new and more up-to-date elements of required contribute to government consultations. The study, as well as a greater focus on fieldwork Society’s position as a leading learned society and on the learning and application of data was further highlighted when it became one skills in geography. of the signatories of a climate communiqué, The Society received funding in January which called on governments to act on the 2015 to set up a new programme of risks and opportunities of climate change. discussions to demonstrate and promote the relevance of geographical dimensions, “It was one of the best events for making contact with practitioners that I’ve ever been to.” 21st Century Challenges: Policy Forum attendee

The Society initiated a review of physical among others. The Society also brought geography to parallel the International perspectives from geography and from Benchmarking Review of Human the learned society sector to its active Geography that reported in 2013. involvement with the British Academy, Due to be completed by late 2016, as a member of their Higher Education the review will document the status Policy Development Group; with the of physical geography in the UK and Academy of Social Sciences, where help the community and its funders the Director was a Council member; understand the challenges and and with Universities UK on their Open opportunities the discipline faces. Access Publishing Coordination Group. 1.2 Advising on geography In addition to advising on the geography During 2015, the Society submitted curriculum in schools, the Society also eight responses to policy consultations had active and successful discussions and research, to both the policy on topics including open research data, with the DfE during the year about initial community and the public. The topics professional development for teachers teacher training, and the need for in these 21st Century Challenges and the Nurse Review of Research quantitative skills and mathematics discussions were chosen to provide Councils. Towards the end of the year, a within geography courses. The latter insight into some of the key economic, series of consultations relating to higher discussions resulted in the new GCSE social and environmental issues facing education policy were announced and and A Levels containing a strengthened the UK. By the end of the year, two events the Society will be responding to these quantitative skills requirement that will each for public and policy audiences during 2016. benefit students whether they continue had been held at the Society, covering to study geography at university or Throughout the year, the Society topics of spatial disparity in economic choose to pursue other interests. attended regular community meetings development and the cities growth with research councils including the Given these new requirements for data agenda, and resilience and adaptation Economic and Social Research Council skills in the curriculum and examination to climate change. A further event, where and the Arts and Humanities Research courses, as well as their importance the opportunities and challenges of Council, and liaised with key government both within the discipline and as decentralisation were discussed, took agencies and departments including the transferrable skills, the Society place in Newcastle. The five events Department for Business and Innovation, developed a two year programme that attracted more than 750 people and Department for Environment, Farming aims to enhance and support the ability provided both interesting discussion and Rural Affairs, and Universities UK, of teachers to embed data skills in their and good networking opportunities. 6/7

teaching of geography. The programme was funded in July 2015 by the Nuffield Foundation, and commenced in October. Overall, the year saw the Society’s work shift from advocacy and advice on school education to greater liaison with the awarding bodies as they developed their GCSE and A Level specifications and to supporting teachers in introducing the new curriculum. The Heads of Departments of Geography in Higher Education meetings continue to be hosted and administered by the Society. This forum Reaching young people is often most During 2015 the Geography provides an opportunity to share views effective through schools and in 2015 Ambassador programme received of issues affecting geography, including the Society’s Geography Ambassadors additional support through the proposed policy changes. It also gave presentations to around 30,000 London Schools Excellence Fund for provides an opportunity for the Society students from 300 schools. These presentations to London students, and to update Heads about its work in presentations explored the value of from the Department for International support of the discipline. studying geography at GCSE and Development for presentations on A Level and the relevance of the a development theme. The feedback 1.3 Promoting geography subject to further studies and careers. from teachers about the programme to wider audiences To ensure presentations are of the is excellent and demand for visits For the discipline to prosper, it is highest quality and have the greatest from schools across the country is essential that geography is promoted impact, all Ambassadors – whether they high. In late 2015 the Society agreed to a wide range of audiences including are undergraduates, postgraduates to collaborate with the Royal Scottish the public, young people and employers. or professionals – attend training Geographical Society and Esri UK to The Society achieves this directly sessions. In 2015, there were 32 run a pilot Ambassadors programme through its projects aimed at the training sessions for Ambassadors in Scotland. general public (see section 2) as from 23 universities. well as through its work with the media (see section 4). 2 Knowledge and understanding Helping create a better informed world

Objective Advance, interpret The furthering of geographical knowledge and understanding, and sharing and share geographical knowledge of that with a wide range of audiences from scholars to school pupils and the more fully, so that the world is better understood and more people general public, lies at the heart of the Society’s work. During 2015, over three benefit from using and enjoying million people engaged with the Society’s work. geographical knowledge in their work, leisure and communities. In particular those organised by its branches and Research Context In a rapidly changing Groups, over the course of 2015. world we constantly need to • The Shackleton centenary exhibition, advance our knowledge and Enduring Eye, was an ambitious and exciting 2.1 Advancing knowledge understanding of it, so that we can project that brought to life Hurley’s extraordinary The Society continued planning and better care for our environments and landscapes, respond to social imagery, conserved those images by digitising fundraising for the next major Field Research and economic challenges as they the fragile glass plate negatives, and told the Programme in partnership with a team of affect our towns, communities story of courage, leadership and survival to expert UK and international researchers led and countryside, and act more responsibly as citizens. Helping to new generations. by Dr Mike Collyer of the University of Sussex. advance geographical knowledge Migrants on the margins will address issues • Migrants on the margins, the Society’s latest through research and scientific of resilience in the face of migration pressure, international, collaborative Field Research expeditions, share it with considering what impacts migrants have on professional users and make it Programme addressing an issue of global the places, environments and communities accessible and engaging through importance, is certain to go into the field interpretation to non-specialists they move to, and what combination of from summer 2016 thanks to a team effort are all at the heart of the Society. circumstances best support migrants to in planning and raising the funds required move out of poverty. The research centres during 2015. on African and Asian cities, where the brunt • Three major international conferences were of urban migration will be felt in the 21st organised wholly or in part by the Society in century. Field studies will be in the cities of 2015, extending the Society’s reach and impact Colombo, Dhaka, Harare and Hargeisa and with the academic community: the Annual led by local research institutes. Conference; the International Conference The project’s International Advisory Group, of Historical Geography and a joint meeting comprises representatives from research, with the British Society for Geomorphology. development, international agency, city • More than 400 live events – lectures, governance, media and NGO sectors. discussions, interviews, conferences, training It provides strategic advice on the project courses – were held by the Society, including and the first meeting was held in June 2015. 8/9

The Society’s project Steering Group These projects shared their progress was also formally constituted in and findings in reports, publications 2015, reporting to the Council and including Geographical magazine and co-chaired by the Vice-Presidents for the national press, and through lectures Research and Higher Education and at the Society. Increasingly, projects are for Expeditions and Fieldwork. It met reaching a broad audience online and three times in 2015. on social media. In particular, Into No Man’s Land (funded by the Thesiger By late December 2015, sufficient funds Oman Fellowship) featured in over 100 had been raised for the field studies local media outlets, BBC News Online, and PhD studentships (c.£450,000) and BBC World Service. to confirm the start of the three-year project in August 2016. Fundraising PhD students will continue to undertake continues in 2016. research on the Society’s Collections for the next three years thanks to a that is on a par with recent Society The Society’s grants programme enables successful bid, in partnership with conferences held outside of London. students, researchers, teachers and the Science Museum and the Royal Session organisers embraced the independent travellers to advance Society, to the Arts and Humanities conference theme of the Anthropocene; knowledge through original research, Research Council for six collaborative and the Chair’s plenaries and associated scientific expeditions and independent PhD studentships across the three discussion panels built on each other travel with a purpose. In 2015, the institutions. During 2015, two students very effectively. There were also creative programme supported 58 projects, supported through earlier stages of this sessions, including those on Waterworlds facilitating original geographical studies scheme completed dissertations on and Attentive Geographies, that across 47 countries from Norway to the visual history of ice sheets and included elements of performance and North Korea, and covering topics from women in the expedition archives. exhibition as well as contributions from glacier hydrology to mapping malaria. artists and filmmakers. A public event on These included four new Environment- 2.2 Interpreting and flooding and its impacts was very well Sustainability grants which were sharing knowledge attended and helped raise the profile generously supported by the Deutsche Professor Sarah Whatmore (Oxford) of local issues. Media coverage was Poste Foundation. In total, more than chaired the 2015 Annual International considerably increased and improved £174,000 was awarded and over 185 Conference, which was held in Exeter compared to recent years (see Section individuals were directly involved with and attracted over 1,300 delegates 4 for details). grant-funded projects. from 47 countries – an attendance “Knowing the story is one thing. Seeing the images brings the emotions and suffering to life. Best exhibition ever.” Enduring Eye visitor

The Society also supports the research community through its 28 specialist research groups. In 2015 they organised over 54 events as well as publishing books and journals, and awarding publishing prizes. During the year, two new working groups – on Food and on Race – were started, while the Economic Geography Research Group had a strong presence at the Global Economic Geography conference in Oxford. In July, the Society played host to more than 700 historical geographers from around the world who had gathered The Society’s online resources for schools recognised by a Silver Award from the for a week of talks and fieldtrips at the continue to be in high demand, with Geographical Association (GA). International Conference of Historical a total of nearly 1.2 million pageviews Entrants to the 2015 Young Geographer Geography. The Society supported the during 2015. School Members can now of the Year competition were asked the conference with relevant displays related access all of the online resources through question ‘Why does Antarctica matter?’. to the Collections. Also in July, the Society the schools section of the Society’s Nearly 1,500 entries from school students hosted the British Academy’s first website where they have been aged 8-19 were received for final judging geography lecture. reorganised to align with the key sections by the Society, making it the most of the new GCSE and A Levels. The The Society co-organised an event successful competition to date. Alongside resources are accompanied by expert in May with the British Society the competition for students, the Society interviews, Society lectures and 60 for Geomorphology on stormy also recognises the work of a trainee second guides, all of which support geomorphology that brought together or newly qualified teacher through the different elements of school geography. practitioners and academics around Rex Walford Award. During the year, the Society also the topical issue of flooding to share published subject overviews for the The Society also works in partnership understanding of how to better predict, four core elements of the new A Level with other organisations to develop measure and manage the effects of course which have been welcomed by high quality teaching and learning extreme events. teachers, and new resources on Russia, resources. In particular, the Discovering mapping London and glaciation were Antarctica website, developed jointly 10/11

with the British Antarctic Survey, British The exhibition was accompanied by to support those who wish to visit Antarctic Territory and the Foreign & a programme of events during autumn countries not yet on the usual tourist Commonwealth Office, was redesigned 2015 including a screening of the film trail. In 2015, the destinations featured during 2015 to enable it to be used on South, Hurley’s film record of the were Uzbekistan, Albania and a wide range of mobile devices. And expedition, which attracted an audience Bangladesh. In the year’s Discovering the Discovering Galapagos website, of nearly 500. In addition, Meredith People interviews, Frank Gardner OBE, developed jointly with the Galapagos Hooper, the exhibition’s curator, gave Floella Benjamin OBE, and Don Conservation Trust and completed in a lecture in the Monday night series McCullin CBE shared their thoughts, early 2015, was highly commended as well as the annual children’s lecture inspirations and experiences with by the GA. about Endurance. large public audiences. Enduring Eye: The Antarctic Legacy of The number of people accessing the The nine UK regional branches and the Sir Ernest Shackleton and Frank Hurley Society’s Collections in other ways Regional Theatres Programme enabled – the Society’s innovative exhibition – through using the Foyle Reading the Society to provide geographical celebrating the centenary of the Room, and attending Be Inspired lectures, talks and field visits across Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition talks, On View displays and other England, Wales and Northern Ireland. (1914-17) led by Sir Ernest Shackleton presentations – reached over 7,500 The Regional Theatres Programme – opened in the Society’s Pavilion on during 2015. Of these, nearly 60% worked with local theatres to give high 21 November 2015, exactly 100 years were non-members. profile speakers a platform and, in 2015, after the crushed Endurance sank speakers including Jago Cooper, Callum During the year, almost 21,000 people beneath the ice of the Weddell Sea. Roberts and Iain Stewart attracted nearly attended 50 events as part of the The exhibition is one of the largest to 2,500 people. vibrant London programme. The draw on the Society’s Collections, and Society’s series of 30 Monday night The Society’s regional programme its production included the digitisation lectures regularly attracted audiences of events is organised by volunteer of 68 of Hurley’s iconic glass plate of over 600 throughout 2015 with committees and ensures that Fellows, negatives making the detailed images topics ranging from the Ebola outbreak members and the public can engage available to the public for the first time. and the discovery of HMS Erebus to with the Society outside London and By the end of 2015, 15,000 people had migration and the Nepalese earthquake. the southeast. In 2015, more than 150 attended the exhibition, and funding Twenty of the year’s lectures are events were organised including field was in place, from the Heritage Lottery available to members to view online. visits to the carbon neutral village Fund and a private donor, to tour the of Ashton Hayes and Steart Marshes exhibition to four other UK venues in The Discovering Places series of as well as talks, ranging from the 2016 and 2017. informed travel events continued impacts of global tourism to the focused gap experiences and as field- use of photography on expeditions. researchers working with an academic A debate on the future of upland mentor as part of the programme. farming featuring expert witnesses An independent evaluation of the was organised by the North West programme commenced in 2015 and region and attracted a sell-out audience is due to report in 2016. of 170. This level of regional activity Building on the innovative and effective highlights the appetite for geographical work done in previous years to engage talks, field trips and discussions across new audiences with its Collections, the the country. The Society also continued Society developed a toolkit during 2015 to have an active Hong Kong branch. that brings together all the guidance 2.3 Reaching new audiences on using the Collections into one place The Society’s public engagement for the first time. This toolkit will enable project, Discovering Britain, entered exhibition, fully updated in early 2015, community groups to access and a second phase of development in uses stunning aerial photography engage with the Society’s Collections March 2015 with the aim of encouraging and 300 image-led stories to engage more easily. This is an outcome of new audiences to learn about Britain people with the UK’s geography – the Society’s experience gained from through its landscapes. Short trails its peoples, places and environments. working in partnership with diverse and viewpoints were developed The feedback from the eight weeks community groups over the past to complement the existing longer it was on display, during which many 12 years. geographical walks and a new, tens of thousands of people engaged Students with special educational mobile-friendly website was soft- with it, was very positive. needs gained benefit from deep access launched at the end of the year. The Society’s Learning and Leading to the Society’s Collections for the During the year, 45 new interpreted programme continued to help realise first time during 2015. The Society, viewpoints and 17 trails were completed. the potential in disadvantaged young arts organisation Flash of Splendour, An estimated 50,000 people went people at school, during a gap and the University of Exeter worked on one of the walks. experience and at university, through collaboratively to produce an exhibition, The outdoor exhibition, Britain from high quality fieldwork and overseas workshops and a conference linked the Air, also attracted audiences new travel with a purpose. During 2015, to the Society’s map collection and to geography while it was on show in 22 young people planned and enjoyed Michael Drayton’s PolyOlbion. Leeds city centre in spring 2015. The their travel overseas on geographically 12 /13 3 Geography in practice Enabling professional and student communities

Objective Help meet the needs The Society plays an important role, as the subject’s professional body, in helping of practising geographers and to maintain standards in the practise of geography. It achieves this, with a wide students, so that there are vibrant, well trained, accredited professional range of audiences, through the provision of training, accreditation, professional communities, and highly employable networking and sharing good practice. students.

Context Geographical knowledge In particular organisations such as the Association for and skills are increasingly used at Geographic Information and the Chartered • The Chartered Geographer scheme work and sought out by employers. Institute of Insurers to increase the number Students have a keener interest continued to grow, aided by partnerships of Chartered Geographers to more than 630. than ever in training and with trade and employers’ organisations. employability in a world of This includes 11 people who gained CGeog greater competition. Professional • 2015 saw a significant increase in the Teach accreditation during 2015. accreditation is becoming more numbers of teachers attending continuing widely valued and rewarded. The Society was also an active member of a professional development courses run by The Society has developed as new cross-government geographers’ network. a professional body as well as the Society. a learned society in the past ten The planning was undertaken in 2015 to • The Society contributed to the development, years. This is to meet individual underpin the Society’s introduction of (optional) with the British Standards Institute, of the needs for advising, maintaining accreditation for geography courses in UK and accrediting standards and Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s Know universities from early 2016. in providing quality training for before you go materials. expeditions, fieldwork and subject 3.2 Sustaining a strong knowledge. It is timely for that 3.1 Developing a full programme of to expand. training function professional support and accreditation Geography Outdoors: the centre supporting By working in partnership with a range of field research continued to provide expert organisations that represent the breadth of advice and support, on a one-to-one basis, fields in which professional geographers now to individuals and small teams in the process work, from environmental consultancies and of planning scientific expeditions or travel insurance specialists to universities and local with a clear purpose. Geography Outdoors authorities, the Society is able to offer the also ran 21 training courses, which were benefits of Chartered Geographer status to attended by over 340 delegates. The Society’s an increasing number of professional groups. online Gap Year Toolkit, which provides Over the course of 2015, the Society built support to young people considering a on existing and new collaborations with gap experience, was revised and updated “I've never left somewhere feeling so inspired, full of ideas and excited about what lies ahead. I enjoyed the opportunities to deepen my knowledge of key topics for my future expeditions.” Explore attendee

in 2015. It provides advice on Survey, and based on the Rediscovering the use of BS 8848 within their work. everything from what to do and where London’s Geography project which was In addition, the Society’s Expedition to go, to health precautions and completed in autumn 2015. Medicine group contributed to the new responsible travel. Teachers working in schools facing edition of the Oxford Handbook on The annual expedition and field challenges in their provision of high Expedition and Wilderness Medicine research planning weekend, Explore, quality fieldwork continued to be which was published in May 2015. attracted 200 delegates with a further supported by the Society through the In partnership with the Field Studies 100 speakers, seminar leaders and Learning and Leading programme. In Council, Ordnance Survey, Esri UK exhibitors contributing to the lively and 2015, two fieldwork training weekends and the Geographical Association, inspiring event. It included the inaugural took place. Teachers from both weekends the Society launched the Year of Peter Smith Lecture, named for the have reported increased motivation Fieldwork in September 2015. The Society’s former Vice President and confidence in delivering their own Year aims to encourage more schools (Education) who had a passion for fieldwork activities. to undertake fieldwork by raising introducing young people to the outdoors 3.3 Consolidating, sharing awareness of the benefits that through fieldwork. By the end of the and promoting best practice fieldwork provides young people. weekend 65 expeditions were being An important example of how the planned and many attendees have Following the publication of the Society has helped to set and share since gone on to apply for Society grants. subject content for the new GCSE and good practice for the planning of A Level courses, the Society started The Society continues to be one of overseas expeditions and fieldwork new collaborations with the awarding the biggest providers of continuing is through the development, with the bodies, including a training day professional development for teachers British Standards Institute, of the Foreign for teachers about the new courses. of geography. In 2015, the focus was on & Commonwealth Office’s Know before These partnerships will be developed geographical subject knowledge and you go materials. Launched in late 2015, further in 2016. key geographical skills and techniques the advice contained in the materials such as mapping, using GIS, and draws heavily on the British Standard The Higher Education Academy fieldwork. During the year over 1,000 8848, which supports good practice funded the Society to document teachers attended a wide range of for organising and managing visits, the teaching and learning needs of courses held at the Society and also fieldwork, expeditions, and adventurous geographers in higher education. As regionally. This included a series of new activities outside the UK. The Society a result of this research, a programme training courses run jointly with Esri UK, also continues to provide ongoing of subject specific events and resources the Field Studies Council and Ordnance training for expedition providers on is planned for 2016. 14/15

2015 at a glance

Research and Higher Education Fieldwork and Expeditions

• Over 700 people from across the world gathered at the Society for the International Conference of Historical Geography • Over £174,000 was awarded for field research projects and expeditions across the world • More than1,300 geographers from £174 ,000 • The Society contributed to the 47 countries attended the Society’s development of new guidance Annual International Conference • The 600th Chartered Geographer from the Foreign & Commonwealth was accredited • Society journal articles were Office on safer adventure travel and downloaded more than 1.3 million volunteering overseas 1,300times by researchers in 165 countries 600th Geography is in the best place for 20 years

Education

• Four new Environment-Sustainability • Geography Ambassadors gave grants, supported by the Deutsche presentations to over 30,000 young Poste Foundation, were introduced people from 300 schools

• More than 1,000 teachers attended the Society’s professional training events • Over 600 students from 70 schools • The Society’s new teaching resources attended the first two School Member • Geography Outdoors ran 21 workshops gained a Silver Award from the , lectures attended by over 540 people 1Geographical000 Association 30,000 540 16/ 17

2015 saw: a 13% increase in A Level candidates • over 7,000 undergraduate students accepted to study geography at

Policy, Governance and Fundraising Public Engagement

• The Society’s new President, • Fundraising was successful for Nicholas Crane, was elected Field Research Programme Migrants on the margins

• 80,000 visitors to the Discovering Britain website downloaded over 15,500 walks • £2.4m was raised during the year in • The Society’s website was used by support of the Society’s work in 2015 80,000over 1.9 million people and beyond • The Society joined 23 other leading academies and learned societies to publish the Climate Communiqué £2.4m 23 universities across the UK • geographers remain among the least likely to be unemployed after graduation

Collections and Enterprises

• 108,000 people viewed Enduring • 104 glass plate and celluloid negatives Eye in person or online up to the end were digitised as part of the production of February 2016 of the Enduring Eye exhibition allowing the detailed images to be seen publicly for the first time

• The Pavilion hosted ten commercial exhibitions on geographical themes • The Society organised more than • Net income from venue hire fully 300 events for public audiences, covered the costs of running and reaching over 30,000 people maintaining the building for the first time 300 10 104 18/19 4 Growing our reputation Building on tradition, independence and contemporary relevance

Objective Build further the The Society further strengthened its reputation in 2015 as one of the most active Society’s strong profile and learned societies in the UK and a leader among geographical societies worldwide, reputation, nationally and internationally, reinforcing and by building on existing activities and improving its public profile. publicising its role as a leader among learned societies and In particular Working relationships were sustained with a partner of choice. sister bodies, the Association for Geographic • The Society significantly improved its levels Context The Society is one Information (AGI), the Field Studies Council of media coverage in 2015, across the whole the largest, most active and most (FSC) and the Geographical Association (GA); innovative of scholarly geographical range of activities. societies worldwide. It is well known and liaison maintained with the International and highly respected in the UK. It • The Society’s journals remained a flagship Geographical Union (IGU). In addition, the has a well-developed international offering for the academic community in the development of the Enduring Eye exhibition reach and reputation through its journals, the field projects and UK and globally in terms of readership, helping enabled a deepening of relationships with expeditions it supports, the Annual to support the standing of UK geography in organisations linked to the polar regions, International Conference and the world. including the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, an international membership. It the British Antarctic Territory (FCO) and the is sought out for advice by other • The Society maintained a strong national geographical societies; and British Antarctic Survey. The Society also network of international contacts, liaisons has two international branches. maintained relationships with a multitude and partnerships in 2015, aiding its work, Global changes offer opportunities of exploration societies, university to establish stronger partnerships reputation and outreach. with selected nations and sister geography societies and with very many societies for the mutual benefit of the 4.1 Developing and consolidating individuals and experts as part of its role organisations, their memberships, bilateral relationships as a world centre for geography and and geography globally. During 2015, the Society led (with the geographical learning. Research Information Network) a project In 2015, the Society started working with funded by the Economic and Social Research representatives of geography alumni Council and the Arts and Humanities Research organisations to explore opportunities for Council to share good practice, and support mutual benefits and closer working. The learned societies in their strategic planning. Society also hosted the University of Oxford’s The project drew on the experience of annual geography alumni lecture. a number of learned societies in the UK, including the Society, for the benefit of The Society continued to liaise with the the community as a whole. Higher Education Academy and discussed with the College of Teaching how best to “Geography: it’s the must-have A Level” The Guardian editorial 13 August 2015

ensure complementarity of activities, piece from the Director was subsequently achieved 1.3 million downloads in building on existing strengths. published in the Times Education 165 countries. Professor Keith Richards Supplement. (Cambridge) was appointed as the new 4.2 Enhancing communication Editor for The Geographical Journal and liaison During 2015, work continued on and Professor Peter Kraftl (Leicester) Media coverage of the Society and of improving the Society’s website. As part and Dr Kavita Datta (Queen Mary geography increased significantly in of this, all of the Society’s resources University of London) joined the Area 2015 compared to recent years. The for schools were brought into the main editorial team. The Society’s new open launch of Britain from the Air in Leeds website. Schools are now also able access journal, Geo, published its first generated coverage both online and to book a visit from a Geography 11 papers with innovative submissions in print including: the Guardian, BBC Ambassador directly and an online map from across the breadth of the discipline. Online, the Daily Mirror, the allows schools to find their nearest Independent and the Telegraph. participating university. Four books were published during 2015 as part of the Society’s book Research featured at the Society’s Annual In total, the website attracted over series, which is one of the few International Conference, generated 1.9 million individual users who looked remaining opportunities for academic over 300 pieces of coverage. This at more than 3.5 million pages. authors to publish monographs. included national print and broadcast The Society’s presence on social media features as well as local newspapers New international partnerships were continued to grow during 2015, with and radio, and specialist press. initiated during the year to support Twitter (@RGS_IBG) increasingly being the Field Research Programme, The launch of Enduring Eye resulted in a used as a way to contact the Society and including through the International BBC Breakfast interview and widespread Facebook becoming an effective way Advisory Board. national press coverage. International to promote events to public audiences. press included RTE, Al Jazeera, the The Hong Kong branch of the Society 4.3 Extending the international Wall Street Journal and Der Spiegel. continues to flourish, with over 70 events dimension of current activities organised during 2015. This was The Society’s work to highlight the The Society’s four established complemented by a schools outreach benefits of studying geography at international journals (Area, Transactions, programme which reached 5,000 pupils GCSE and A Level saw mentions of The Geographical Journal and Wires at 35 schools. Committee changes have geography’s increasing popularity in Climate Change) sustained their reach taken place within the Singapore branch both the Guardian and the Times, and and stature during 2015. and a regular programme of events will a Guardian editorial on why geography The Society’s core journals were widely resume in 2016. is the ‘must have’ A Level. An opinion read and cited across the world and 20/21 5 Enhancing our Membership An important source of expertise, funding and enthusiasm

Objective Reach and engage Membership is fundamental to the Society. Fellows and members provide expertise, new supporters and retain the volunteer help, funding through their subscriptions, and contact networks, all in enthusiasm and expertise of existing Fellows and members, across the support of the Society’s charitable activities. They are also advocates for geography UK and beyond, ensuring a strong and the importance of everyone understanding our changing world. Throughout and growing membership of both the UK, and globally in more than 100 countries, Fellows and members are a professionals and enthusiasts who support our activities. community of geographers – professionals and enthusiasts alike – sharing their passion, knowledge and commitment to a vibrant organisation. Context The Society draws heavily on its Fellows and members for their knowledge, advice, enthusiasm and In particular 2015 and resulted in new Twitter feeds being contacts, and for their subscriptions created to serve audiences specifically • The number of Society Fellows and which provide around a quarter interested in higher education (@RGS_IBGhe), of the Society’s income – the members remained healthy and Fellowship, schools (@RGS_IBGschools) and Society single largest source. The Society in particular, continued to grow modestly. especially values its many loyal events organised by the Cheshire and North Fellows and members who have • Improvements to emails and social media Wales regional committee (@RGS_IBGcnw). provided long term support. If the Society is to continue to develop in made the Society’s communications with the The number of followers for each of these a sustainable way then membership membership more effective. feeds is growing steadily. needs to continue to increase year on year, while being mindful of not • 2,800 volunteers gave their time and Young Geographers can now also adding too much additional pressure expertise to the Society to support its work in communicate with the Society and each on London events and facilities. 2015. The majority were members or Fellows. other through a closed Facebook group. The group features links, news and 5.1 Improving communication announcements from the Society, helping with members Young Geographers make the most of their Completing the installation of the new audio membership. By the end of 2015, the group visual equipment in the Ondaatje Theatre had nearly 500 members, around a quarter in early 2015 enabled the Society to produce the total. high quality recordings of the Monday night lectures for the first time from February 2015. Fellows and members were able to follow Now available to watch in the Members’ Area Society-grant-funded fieldwork and expeditions of the Society’s website, work continues to through the InTheField pages of the website. raise awareness of them. These pages feature Tweets, Facebook updates and blog posts from researchers The social media plan agreed towards sharing their experiences and findings. the end of 2014 was implemented during “The lecture last night was spectacular! Look forward to renewing my membership in 2016.” Society Fellow

The Society news pages of the website provide an opportunity for sixth formers the second half of the year, plans were continued to be a source of timely to hear directly from leading geographers. developed and funding successfully information about the Society’s activities The first two lectures were attended by sought to take Britain from the Air and and the number of pageviews for this over 600 A Level students representing Enduring Eye to six UK city venues in section of the website nearly doubled nearly 70 schools. The lectures were 2016 and 2017. in 2015 compared to 2014. filmed and are available online for The first 21st Century Challenges event schools unable to attend. School Towards the end of 2015, the monthly to be held outside of London took place Membership increase during the year news email that is sent to all Fellows in Newcastle in December in partnership reversed the slight downward trend and members underwent a redesign with Newcastle University. More regional in recent years. to make it shorter and include news discussion events are planned for 2016. about Society activities as well as More than 1,000 undergraduate The Society thanks its highly committed information about forthcoming events. students, from departments across regional committees for organising the UK, visited the Society in 2015 to 5.2 Enhancing recruitment and events for members and the public learn about the Society and how it can retention of Fellows and members during 2015. The volunteers who make support them with resources, career The Society’s membership saw modest up the regional committees are just a information and expedition advice, and growth in the number of Fellows and proportion of the 2,800 volunteers, mostly to work with the Society’s Collections. School Members, to reach a total of Fellows and members, who gave their The online resources for those unable c. 15,900. Retention remained high, time and expertise during 2015 to to visit were further developed this year as ever, among Fellows at around 94%; support the aims and objectives of the to include a series of short films about while members continued to have higher Society. In total, an estimated 1,500 days the Society’s work. lapse rates. Exit surveys of members of direct volunteer support was given provided useful information and even 5.3 Reviewing members’ benefits by speakers at events, Geography aided retention. Geographical, the Society’s popular Ambassadors, expert advisors, editors magazine launched as a digital app in and editorial board members, peer Young Geographer continued to be early 2015. All Young Geographers now reviewers, grant reviewers, committee popular in 2015, and many A Level receive the digital edition as part of their members and people in many other students now include their membership membership subscription, while Fellows roles. This is equivalent to roughly six of the Society on their UCAS personal and Ordinary Members can choose to full time staff. statement when applying to university. receive it digitally rather than in print. Free, termly lectures for School Members The Society continued to give thought were introduced in summer 2015 to to its regional offering during 2015. In 22/23 6 Securing the future As one of the world’s largest and most active scholarly geographical societies

Objective Enable a robust future The Society exceeded its income targets for 2015 and prudently lived within its for the Society, by increasing income budget expenditure. This resulted in an operating surplus on the General Fund of sustainably, using technology effectively, and enhancing staff £270,000. The Council approved net transfers from the General Fund to designated capabilities. and restricted funds of £725,000 including transfers of £200,000 to support Context The Society is an forthcoming essential repairs and replacements on the building, on an income independent body with a strong of £5.41m. Major income sources were membership subscriptions, Enterprise reputation for quality and objectivity. company net revenue, operating activities and fundraising. The Society’s activities In common with most other learned societies and professional bodies, were in line with its strategy and the income consistent with the five-year business it receives no core government plan (2012-2016). funding. It is proud to have developed to be among the most dynamic The financial review (pages 24/25) sets Regions Department (FCO) for the Discovering scholarly bodies worldwide. Over the past 15 years it has grown to out how the Society generated and spent its Antarctica website; the DfE and GLA for be recognised both for its work income in support of the charitable activities. a geography teachers’ hub; the AHRC for to advance geography with the 2015 saw a welcome increase in income doctoral studentships to work on the Society’s research and scientific expedition communities, and also beyond, with from the Enterprise company, and in particular Collections. from venue hire. This growth meant that for schools, students, the public at large Members kindly contributed £51,000 to and policy makers. The strategy the first time, net income from venue hire fully the Appeals in 2015; and a range of donors 2012-2016 builds on the breadth of covered the costs of running and regular our activities and reputation, seeking supported the Society grant-giving with a maintenance of the building. new ways to involve people and to total of £103,000. In addition some awards increase our income. The Society continued to receive substantial and donations from previous years supported support from donors. Society-led fundraising work in 2015 and are listed on the next page. resulted in more than £2m being raised A further c.£375,000 was generated by or committed in the year for core work and the Migrants on the margins project team projects in 2015 and beyond. This included to support the key field surveys part of the support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), programme and contributions to two PhD the Ernest Kleinwort Trust and Walter Scott Ltd studentships. for UK exhibition tours; major donor funding for 21st Century Challenges and Discovering Britain; the Nuffield Foundation for the Data skills in geography project; the HLF for digitisation of the Society’s film collection, housed at the British Film Institute; the Polar Corporate partnerships Corporate Project Partner Grants A total of £287,000 was provided in 2015 from Esri UK the leading provider of GIS technology, Deutsche Post Foundation valued relationships with corporate benefactors supported the Society’s Geography Ambassador Geographical Club and partners, as described below. Trailfinders programme and brought GIS expertise to it. Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Hong Kong renewed its corporate support for a further three Ambassadors inspire 30,000 young people John Pilkington and the BBC years in early 2015 and Rolex agreed a further a year with geography and GIS. HM Qaboos, Sultan of Oman three year commitment from 2016. The Society Neville Shulman Corporate Business Member warmly thanks them and other corporate partners Paul and Mary Slawson Silversea engaged the Society in providing who were mid-term in their sponsorships. £50,000 Ralph Brown Memorial Fund educative materials on their expedition cruise ships. was also committed to Britain from the Air in Rio Tinto plc 2015/16 by Craghoppers; a new relationship. Other supporters Information services and resources Silversea renewed its Corporate Business Member Owing to space limitations, not everyone can be NADFAS relationship for three years. mentioned but we thank you all warmly as every donation matters. The Society would also like to Legacies received Corporate Benefactors thank those who provided support in earlier years Estate of Dr Rosemary Helen McConnell Land Rover supported our core scientific for projects which are now taking place, those Estate of Professor Bill Mead expedition and fieldwork training activities, including who have chosen to remain anonymous, and James Will Trust Land Rover driver training courses, the loan of those individuals who have provided fundraising Membership services a Freelander to facilitate outreach visits, and the guidance and assistance. Phillip’s Publishing Land Rover Bursary to support one major field Stanfords Maps and Books expedition each year. Education British Antarctic Survey Public engagement Ordnance Survey Ltd supported our core work British Antarctic Territory British Antarctic Territory with schools and teachers, helping to strengthen Department for Education Discovering Britain project supporter geography in education, to ensure sound use Department for International Development Craghoppers Ltd of maps and GIS, and to reward excellence in Foreign & Commonwealth Office: Government of South Georgia and teaching and learning. Polar Regions Department the South Sandwich Islands Rolex supported our core work with and through Greater London Authority Picturae the Society’s large, unique and iconic collections The Nuffield Foundation Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 of maps, photographs, books, documents Fieldwork and expeditions Shell UK and objects, helping to underpin public access, Fellows’ and members’ Appeal donations The Clothworkers’ Company conservation and new uses for, and users of, Land Rover Experience United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust the Collections. Learning and Leading project supporter Research and higher education Trailfinders supported the Society’s work with the Peter Smith family & friends Arts and Humanities Research Council public, to inspire and promote the wider relevance Higher Education Academy and enjoyment of geography and to foster a greater understanding of our world. This builds on a shared common interest in informed travel. 24/ 25

Financial review

The summarised financial statements grew by nearly £100k with venue hire put the Society in the position of having a for 2015 on the following page provide providing 59% of the Enterprises income, up level of Free Reserves that exceeded the an overview of the Society’s balance from 53% in 2014. Meanwhile, membership target level (£1m) for the first time since the subscription income rose by £84k; with introduction of the policy. sheet assets, liabilities and funds, net income from membership, after costs, In 2015, the Society completed paying down together with its sources of income, and totalling £821k. the deficit on its closed final salary pension expenditure of resources by activity. The General Fund contribution levels also scheme, as per the actuarial valuation In 2015, the Society’s annual operating result reflected a lower rate of cost increases than completed for the Trustees of the Pension before transfers was a surplus of £270,000 on for revenue thus allowing for a larger surplus Scheme in February 2015. The Society has the General Fund. This was ahead of budget than in the prior year. Thus 2015 costs, at retained £507k specifically in a designated for the year. The result after transfers between £5.15m, were 3.9% higher than the 2014 fund to meet any future payment needs funds including the transfer of £200,000 to total. The second pie chart shows resources arising from subsequent triennial valuations. the major repairs and capital development expended by activity (with the effects of There were no other significant events in 2015 designated funds, but before investment and depreciation removed) and, as expected, that had a financial impact on the Society. pension valuations gains/losses had been the costs associated with engaging wider taken into account, was a deficit on the General audiences have increased as a proportion

Fund of £409,000 (2014: surplus of £59,000). of the total (18% from 15% in 2014) due Independent auditor’s statement to to the higher activity levels reported above the Trustees of the Royal Geographical Society 2015 saw higher levels of incoming resources (with The Institute of British Geographers) than the prior year (excluding exceptional under income. The main area of cost reduction We have examined the summarised financial statements of the was in Enterprises (down 22% in absolute Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) income), up 17% at £5.41m (2014: £4.63m) for the year ended 31 December 2015 set out on page 25. terms) as the prior year effects of the Oman with the main increase year-on-year being Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and the auditor exhibition Pavilion hire dropped out, some The Trustees are responsible for preparing the summarised in donations which provided new project financial statements in accordance with applicable United funding, including for Discovering Britain, staff costs were reallocated to other areas Kingdom law and the recommendations of the charities SORP. 21st Century Challenges, and the Enduring following restructuring, and third party Our responsibility is to report to you our opinion on the consistency services costs were reduced in venue hire of the summarised financial statements within the Annual Review Eye exhibition. The pie chart for incoming with the full annual Financial Statements and the Trustees’ Report. in 2015, leading to the achievement of resources demonstrates the point with We conducted our work in accordance with Bulletin 2008/3 issued income from ‘Donations, grants and appeals’ better margins. by the Auditing Practices Board. Opinion representing 21% of income in the year The consolidated balance sheet shows that In our opinion the summarised financial statements are consistent (2014: 11%) with only the gross income net assets increased by £1.56m (2014: £1.56m with the full annual Financial Statements and the Trustees’ Report of the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British from Membership (30%) and Enterprises increase also), largely reflecting the actuarial Geographers) for the year ended 31 December 2015. (22%) larger. Other sources of income also movement in the FRS 102 defined benefit RSM UK Audit LLP made important contributions albeit income Statutory Auditor, April 2016 pension scheme accounting which resulted The Pinnacle, 170 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 1BP from charitable activities was down slightly in a reduction in the liability of £1.08m (2014: These summarised financial statements are extracted from the (4% versus 2014), mainly due to a smaller £839k increase in the liability). The Society Society’s full audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2015, which were approved by Council on 4 April Annual Conference held outside London, has not recognised the defined benefit 2016. The full Financial Statements and Trustees’ Report will be but still at a high overall level by historic pension scheme asset of £425,000 indicated submitted to the Charity Commission after the Society’s AGM, and are available on the Society’s website W www.rgs.org and the standards. The Enterprises business income by the FRS 102 valuation at the year end. This Charity Commission website W www.charity-commission.gov.uk. RESTRICTED DESIGNATED DESIGNATED GENERAL TOTALS 2 1 5

Research & Other 31.12.2015 6 New Initiatives Consolidated 30 Balance Sheet £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 Fixed assets 5,030 1,319 6,349 •• 22 Investments 2,810 1,996 1,670 2,028 8,504 Current assets 829 • 65 1,981 2,875 Current liabilities -807 -807 ••• 21 Inter-fund accounts -161 258 1,858 -1,955 0 13 Net assets 8,508 2,254 3,593 2,566 16,921 £5.41m income by source (2014: £4.63m) Funds balances 31.12.15 8,508 2,254 3,593 2,566 16,921 • 30% Membership subscriptions Funds balances 31.12.14 8,744 2,273 2,831 1,939 15,787 • 21% Donations,grants, and appeals • 13% Income generated by charitable activities 2015 net Funds movement -236 -19 762 627 1,134 • 22% RGS Enterprises turnover • 6% Investment income • 5% Corporate supporters • 2% Tenants 1% Legacies & endowment Consolidated Statement • of Financial Activities Incoming resources 841 80 113 4,373 5,407 6 (see right for analysis by sources) 19 Resources expended -1,034 -34 -29 -4,057 -5,154 12 (see right for analysis by activity)

Net investment loss -92 -59 -4 -46 -201 15 18 (Deficit)/surplus before transfers -285 -13 80 270 52 Transfers between funds 49 -6 682 -725 0

14 (Deficit)/surplus after transfers -236 -19 762 -455 52 11 5 FRS102 actuarial gain onpension scheme •••1,082 1,082 £4.78m resources expended by activity -236 -19 762 627 1,134 (2014: £4.61m) excluding depreciation £374k (2014: 350k) • 19% Education, expeditions, fieldwork, grants • 18% Engaging wider audiences • 11% Information services & resources • 5% Policy, communications, media • 14% Research, higher education, grants • 15% Membership services • 12% RGS Enterprises costs • 6% Other, including governance 26/27

Governance

The Society is governed by its Council The Council met, as usual, three times Ordinary Members of Council Staff which largely comprises Fellows in 2015. The Executive Committee of Dr David Anderson The Director reports to the Council and elected from and by the Fellowship. Council, which comprises the senior- Professor Phil Ashworth has responsibility for implementing They represent the main areas of most Trustees, met in the intervening Dr Jenny Balfour-Paul the Society’s strategy, assisted by activity of the Society. Up to four periods as the need arose. Alistair Carr a senior team of five departmental of the 25 Council members may be Attendance at Council meetings in Barbara Hamnett MBE heads and a staff that numbered co-opted, including a postgraduate 2015 averaged 82% across all three Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB 58 in December 2015. One new representative, to bring further meetings. The Finance Committee, Peter Mather permanent and one new fixed- breadth, expertise and contact which oversees all financial matters, Dr Emma Mawdsley term position were appointed in networks. met four times, as usual, and Dr Kathryn Monk 2015, in line with the Society’s comprises a core membership Professor Joe Painter strategy, to support policy work. In 2014 and 2015, in line with of accounting, financial, legal and Greg Thomas All staff members are based at recommendations of good practice investment professionals. the Society’s headquarters in by the Charity Commission, the The following also served as Council Kensington, London. Council identified the skills and The following Council members were Members until June 2015: expertise gaps that would be most in office at the end of 2015 helpful to fill in the elections to the Paul Baker Council in June. Fellows standing President Professor Alison Blunt for election were encouraged to Nicholas Crane Llinos Brown state how they met those identified Andrew Linnell Immediate Past President gaps. However, this approach did Dr Mark Mulligan Professor Dame Judith Rees not preclude any Fellow standing Michael Palin CBE for election to positions relevant to Vice Presidents Rebecca Stephens MBE Dr Michael Firth their background. This development Professor Wendy Larner resigned (Education) has been generally welcomed by in December 2015 following her the Fellowship. Dr John Shears appointment to a post in New Zealand (Expeditions and Fieldwork) Council positions are elected for The Council is advised by Professor David Thomas a single term of three years at the specialist committees for Education; (Research and Higher Education) Annual General Meeting, including Expeditions and Fieldwork; Finance; a postal vote of the Fellowship. Honorary Treasurer and Research and Higher Education. Elected Council members also serve Mark Humphreys Attendance at these committee on the appropriate Committee of Chair of Annual Conference 2015 meetings averaged 69% across the Council to provide liaison between Professor Sarah Whatmore year. In addition, advice was provided the two levels. by the Regions Committee, a small Honorary Secretaries number of specialist Sub-Committees, The Council is cognisant of the Dr Simon Carr including one for investments value of diversity, while seeking (Expeditions and Fieldwork) and, where appropriate, individual to attract the most appropriately Laura Stone professional advisors. RGS qualified persons to guide the (Education) Enterprises Limited, a wholly owned Society’s governance. Dr Nicola Thomas subsidiary of the Society, is governed (Research and Higher Education) by its Enterprise Board. Contact details Current regional coordinators Royal Geographical Society(with IBG) Public Engagement Chair of the Regions Yorkshire and North East 1 Kensington Gore and Communications Dr Kathryn Monk Chris Speight London SW7 2AR Caitlin Watson ET [email protected] E [email protected] T +44 (0)20 7591 3000 E [email protected] W www.rgs.org/ Cheshire and North Wales F +44 (0)20 7591 3001 Communications yorkshirenortheast Dr Diane Spivey E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] Hong Kong W www.rgs.org E [email protected] W www.rgs.org/ Rupert McCowan Exhibitions Director and Secretary cheshireandnorthwales E [email protected] E [email protected] Dr Rita Gardner CBE W rgshk.org.hk Programmes East Anglia E [email protected] E [email protected] Michael Hand Singapore Development Public Engagement projects E [email protected] Jeremy Torr E [email protected] E [email protected] W www.rgs.org/eastanglia E [email protected] Policy W www.rgs.org/singapore E [email protected] Midlands Research and Higher Education Martin Haslett Education and Outdoor Learning Dr Catherine Souch E [email protected] Steve Brace E [email protected] W www.rgs.org/midlands E [email protected] Annual Conference Ambassadors programme E [email protected] Northern Ireland E [email protected] Chartered Geographer Professor Stephen Royle Education general E [email protected] E [email protected] E [email protected] Research Groups & general W www.rgs.org/northernireland Geography Outdoors E [email protected] North West E [email protected] Academic publications Tim Foster E [email protected] Finance and Services E [email protected] David Wade Grants (all types) W www.rgs.org/northwest E [email protected] E [email protected] South Venue Hire Resources and Enterprise Vacant E [email protected] Alasdair Macleod E [email protected] Membership Office E [email protected] W www.rgs.org/south E [email protected] Enterprise Company South West E [email protected] Derry Corey Foyle Reading Room E [email protected] E [email protected] W www.rgs.org/southwest Picture Library E [email protected] West of England and South Wales Dr Phillip Toms E [email protected] W www.rgs.org/westandsouthwales 28/29

Looking ahead

2016 is a milestone. In 1996 the merger Income has more than trebled, from geographical research as a whole will of the Royal Geographical Society and membership, Enterprise activities and be celebrated by the Annual International the Institute of British Geographers was operations, and including the £34m Conference in September, with an put into practice, following votes of both or so competitively raised to help fund expected 2,000+ delegates in London. memberships in 1995. The Society has the Society’s development. We are In winter, we celebrate the 60th evolved, while retaining the strengths of enormously grateful to our donors anniversary of the Society’s expedition both organisations to become the leading – individual philanthropists, trusts and grants and the 40th anniversary of scholarly geographical society in the foundations, corporate supporters, Explore, by striving to make contact world and something of a role model. and Fellows and members. with as many of the11,000 individuals We have developed major new areas of With this context in mind, 2016 will be who have been on Society-grant- work – engaging the public, enhancing a year for reflection and planning the funded expeditions and field projects teaching and learning in schools, and Society’s next strategy, 2017-2021, and as possible and reflecting on the advocating persuasively for the discipline a year of celebration. In spring we will impact of their experiences. to government and others. We have celebrate public access to the Collections Our building is essential to our work and developed further the traditional support with the start of the UK tour of the is now used by around 300,000 people for expeditions and fieldwork and Enduring Eye exhibition in Manchester. per year. Thanks to the operating surplus for research that the RGS and the In summer, we will celebrate making in 2015, we will be able to undertake IBG brought into the merger. We have geography accessible to everyone, with some pressing capital replacements become the professional body as well Britain from the Air making its first visit and repairs. Our financial systems and as the learned society for geography. to London, in our garden and Pavilion. processes equally must be upgraded, We have stayed true to our purpose: We will celebrate our success in helping responding to the significant increase advancing geographical science. Our young people from disadvantaged in levels of activity. membership, which supports what we backgrounds realise their potential do as a charity, has grown and diversified, In and around these events, we will through geography, with the completion including a vibrant Young Geographer naturally be continuing our whole range and evaluation of the seven-year membership. We engage much wider of established activities and ongoing Learning and Leading programme. audiences and more sectors than most projects, seeking to focus on outcomes other learned societies. Our work is In autumn, the launch of the Migrants on and impacts, as well as outputs. collaborative, aided by volunteer support the margins collaborative international Finally, in December, after consultation from across the geographical community, Field Research Programme in Asian and with members and committees, the and an excellent contact network that African cities, will endorse the Society’s next strategy will be agreed by the has been built over the years. work in field research. Our support for Society’s Council. Recognising excellence in 2015

The Society’s Medals and Awards have The Society’s Council made the following awards: recognised excellence in the breadth of geographical research, practice and Victoria Medal Ordnance Survey Awards (two awards) Professor Stephen Daniels Andrew Emms public promotion since the foundation ‘for research excellence Raphael Heath of the Society in 1830. in cultural geography’ ‘for excellence in geography education at the secondary level’ The two Royal Medals (The Founder’s and Busk Medal Jayalaxshmi Mistry Taylor & Francis Award Patron’s Medals) are among the highest ‘for policy-relevant, conservation- Professor David Lambert international accolades. They are awarded related research in the Global South’ ‘for leadership in the profession and practice of teaching geography’ for ‘the encouragement and promotion of Cherry Kearton Medal & Award geographical science and discovery’. Sebastião Salgado Alfred Steers Dissertation Prize ‘for excellence in Amazonian Christine McKenna In 2015 Her Majesty the Queen approved photography as a record of ‘for the undergraduate geography the award of the Royal Medals as follows: natural history’ dissertation judged to be the best in 2014’ Murchison Award Founder’s Medal Professor Gill Valentine Area Prize Professor Michael Batty CBE ‘for publications relating to the Rory Horner ‘for development and promotion geography of difference, equality ‘for the best article in the journal of the geographical science of cities’ and diversity’ by a new researcher’ Patron’s Medal Back Award Geographical Award Paul Theroux Professor David Martin Alain Hubert ‘for the encouragement of geographical ‘for influencing policy with respect ‘for furthering the understanding of discovery through travel writing’ to the census and its applications’ polar scientific research in Antarctica’ Cuthbert Peek Award Honorary Fellowship Professor Heiko Balzter Professor Peter Wood The Society further recognised excellence through ‘for advancing geographical Professor Kenneth J Gregory CBE the Young Geographer of the Year Awards, with over knowledge of human impact ‘in recognition of outstanding 1,150 entries from 300 schools (with thousands more through earth observation’ commitment and contribution students taking part in in-school competitions), and to the Society’s work’ the Rex Walford Award to recognise newly qualified Gill Memorial Award teachers. 24 Excellence Awards were made to the Charlotte Lemanski individuals who achieved the highest marks in GCSE, ‘for early career achievement A Level and International Baccalaureate examinations in the field of urban geography’ in Geography. Ness Award Robert Macfarlane ‘for popularising geography through writing about landscapes, place, travel and nature’ This report summarises the Society’s charitable Acknowledgements activities and finances in 2015 in pursuit of its Front cover objective to ‘advance geographical science’. South Georgia mountains © RGS-IBG The Society’s work is guided by its current Page1 strategy and benefits a wide range of professional Nicholas Crane © RGS-IBG and public audiences. The Society is a vibrant Page 2 clockwise from top left organisation that seeks to balance its stakeholders Field apprentice © James Linighan Enduring Eye © Nando Machado and activities for the benefit of all our users and Learning and Leading © RGS-IBG of geography. The full annual accounts and report Britain from the Air © Hannah Webster can be found on our website and that of the Page 3 Charity Commission. Dr Rita Gardner CBE © RGS-IBG Page 5 If you would like to receive a copy of this report in 21st Century Challenges © Nando Machado PDF so that it can be read in larger print or using Page 6 Adobe Reader software, please visit Geography Ambassadors © RGS-IBG Page 8 W www.rgs.org/annualreview 21st Century Challenges © Nando Machado Page 9 Young Geographers of the Year © Howard Sayer Page 11 Registered Charity 208791 Discovering Britain © Nando Machado Page14/15 Research and Higher Education Annual International Conference © RGS-IBG Annual International Conference © RGS-IBG Fieldwork and Expeditions The Land Rover Bursary © Clive Oppenheimer Explore © Spike Reid Education Learning and Leading © RGS-IBG Geography Ambassador © RGS-IBG Page16/17 Policy, governance and fundraising Nicholas Crane © Hannah Webster Migrants on the margins © Laura Hammond Public Engagement Discovering Britain © Mike Rolls Enduring Eye © RGS-IBG Venue Hire, Membership and Enterprises Annual reception © RGS-IBG Shackleton’s cabin on the Endurance © RGS-IBG

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