RGS-IBG Annual Review 2017
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Annual review 2017 The Society Vision Society objectives A world-leading learned and The Royal Geographical Society (with professional body for geography, IBG) exists for ‘the advancement of widely respected for its independence, geographical science’. For the current quality, innovation, and for the breadth strategy, 2017-2021, this purpose has of its activities promoting and been expressed as six strategic supporting geography as the means objectives for the organisation. These for everyone to discover, understand focus the activities of the Society and and respect the world’s people, ensure that the Society’s operational places and environments. development is planned, integrated and responsive to the needs of the Mission discipline, its practitioners, the public A world centre for geography and at large and the membership. Three geographical learning dedicated to objectives concern first and foremost the development and promotion of the discipline. These are to safeguard knowledge together with its application the discipline, to develop and share to the challenges facing society and geographical knowledge and the environment. understanding, and to support practitioners and students. Three objectives concern the Society. These are to grow our reputation, enhance our membership and sustain the future. The Society’s work is organised into thematic departments, each of which The Society is a charity that exists for contributes work to several objectives. public benefit and which also has a broad-based membership that supports its mission and aims. The Society was independently recognised in 2013 as the leading scholarly geographical society in the world. Registered Charity 208791 Nicholas Crane From the President President In my final year as President, I would achievements, do have a look at the • There was a fantastic programme like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our April 2018 edition of Geographical of engaging and inspiring events Fellows, members, donors and volunteers magazine. – Monday night lectures, Discovering whose continuing support makes it People and Places in London; the The search for Rita’s successor began possible for RGS-IBG to play a leading regional programme across England, in June 2017 and has led to the role in furthering geographical science. Wales and Northern Ireland; and the appointment of Dr Joe Smith. Joe brings Annual International Conference and The last year has reminded me in to the Society an exciting record of Research Group meetings. particular of the enormously valuable geographical engagement across role played within the Society by the many fields. • The existing programme of teacher elected trustees, whose time and continuing professional development In the pages that follow, you will see the expertise makes it possible for the was enhanced with new work with breadth of what was achieved during Society to remain a beacon among schools to support field teaching. 2017, but in my last ‘From the President’ learned societies. Standing back – and I would like to pick out just a few • The Society’s moving film archive is down – from my role as President, I see examples that illustrate the Society’s now available to everyone through the a world-class organisation devoted to a ongoing work in both generating new BFI media player, after a programme of subject at the heart of our shared future. geographical knowledge and improving digitisation supported by the Heritage That we have been able to achieve so access to it. Lottery Fund. much in recent years is due to the hard work and dedication of the Society’s • The Society’s collaborative field My role over the past three years has senior management team and the research project, Migrants on the been enjoyable and rewarding, and entire staff of RGS-IBG. margins, completed its first field I thank all of you who have made it so. season of data collection and analysis Many of you will know that Dr Rita of the initial results has informed the Gardner, our Director of the last 22 second field season, which takes place years, is leaving the Society this year in the first half of this year. and I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing Rita the very best in the next phase • Our grants programme continued of her geographical journey. Rita’s to grow, with new grants for field achievements during her time at the research – including the Walters Society have been nothing short of Kundert Awards – meaning that extraordinary. For a flavour of those 47 projects were supported with over £200,000 of funding in total. 2/3 Dr Rita Gardner CBE From the Director Director 2017 was a year of change and tasked with inviting suggestions from mentioned some already and there are continuity. In terms of governance, we the membership and the trustees as to many more. For example, developing a completed the planning and publication possible candidates, and considering new website, trebling use of Discovering of the fourth successive strategy those in relation to the skills and Britain walks, new professional (2017-2021) of RGS-IBG and started experiences sought in the next President. discussions, enhancing teachers’ its implementation. This strategic plan skills and confidence in data skills, Stewardship of the Society’s donors continues the Society’s steady evolution and the appointment of the first ever and members featured prominently as a learned society, professional body, cross-government Head of Geography in our development activities. A donor charity and membership organisation, in autumn 2017. celebration event in July enabled us and builds firmly on the past 22 years to thank again the c.1,250 donors Finally, I cannot end my last ‘From the of development of RGS-IBG and on the – individuals, trusts and foundations, Director’ without extending warmest longer term histories of the two bodies. companies and statutory bodies – thanks to all those who have generously The Society will continue to focus who have supported the Society’s given their time, expertise, commitment, on promoting and safeguarding the development since 1995 with more passion for geography, and moral and discipline; advancing new knowledge than £35m. Honorary Fellow, John financial support to the Society since and understanding of our world and Williams, was commissioned to write 1996. Our membership is a very broad sharing that widely; and supporting, a short overview of the RGS-IBG’s first and special community and I have had training and accrediting professional 22 years of development. This was the pleasure of working with many and student geographers. The strategy published in autumn 2017. outstanding people in leading the retains our well-established breadth Society’s work. In particular, I thank Preparations were made during the of activities for the wide range of senior colleagues Steve Brace, Alasdair year for a new legacy campaign to be audiences who value the RGS-IBG as Macleod, David Riviere and Catherine launched in spring 2018. The intention a ‘geographical home’. The plurality Souch for many years of shared ‘travels is to enable the Society to grow, over of the Society is a great strength and and endeavours’ in the service of the coming years, a £10m endowment increasingly our activities join across geography and the Society. The to help pump-prime the Society’s the different communities of interest. RGS-IBG and UK geography are in development in perpetuity. Pledges may great strength and heart. I wish my Considerable time this year was spent also, of course, give to specific areas of successor, Joe Smith, a tenure as preparing for a handover in Society interest or activities. stimulating and enjoyable. leadership at both Director and President Meanwhile, there were many highlights levels. The Council established, in the across our work, as you can read in the usual way, a Presidential search group following pages. The President has 4/5 1 Geography Promoting and sustaining a vibrant discipline Objective Represent, promote 2017 was another good year for geography, with record numbers of GCSE, A Level and advocate for geography as and undergraduate students, and an increasing recognition of the value of the a leading discipline, so that its contribution to understanding our discipline by parents, employers and government. The Society continued to be changing world is appreciated by an influential, widely sought out, and effective advocate for the discipline. the public and it maintains a strong position in education, research, fieldwork and expeditions, in civic In particular 1.1 Making the case for geography The Society continued to have strong links society and in informing policy • A cross-government Head of Geography and business. with networks of key influencers across the was appointed within the Government government, business, research, education, Context Geography has an Science and Engineering profession, essential role in the 21st century and learned society sectors. The Society, representing a formal recognition of the in helping everyone to understand whether working independently or in our world. 2012 to 2016 saw contribution geography makes to analysis, partnership with others from across the significant strengthening in the policy and delivery in government. standing and study of geography. geographical community, remains a powerful 2017 to 2021 has uncertainties • The International Review of UK Physical advocate and well placed to ensure that the in the face of UK political and economic change. Geography declared the sub-discipline’s voice of geography and of geographers is health and global influence to be excellent. heard when and where it matters. The report highlighted its influence beyond During 2017, the Society continued to support traditional geography departments, high geography in schools, higher education research funding success rate, increasing and research, and across the professions presence in schools, and highly regarded by engaging in pro-active dialogue with graduating students. government departments and agencies, • The work that the Society has done the national academies, and other bodies to successfully improve the use and ranging from the Satellite Applications understanding of data skills in both secondary Catapult to the Nuffield Foundation.