Royal Geographical Society

The Royal Geographical Society (RGS; with the Institute of British Geographers [IBG]) is the United Kingdom's (UK) learned and professional society for geography and geographers. It is a dynamic institution, with a distinguished history and a powerful modern reputation and brand. Founded in 1830, the RGS-IBG is the largest geographical [Page 2486]society in Europe and one of the largest and most active in the world. It operates at the inter national, national, and regional levels from its London-based headquarters and nine regional branches.

The society's purpose remains the same today as when it was first founded—namely, the “advancement of geographical science” (enshrined in its Royal Charter in 1859). However, the manner in which this goal has been pursued has expanded greatly over the years. Today, the society is involved in a broad and integrated program of activities supporting geographical research, from education and outdoor learning, to public engagement and knowledge transfer, to policy making. As well as supporting and helping develop geography, the society actively promotes, advises on, and represents the discipline to a wide range of stakeholders. It is governed by a board of trustees, a council, elected from its fellowship.

The history of the society for many of its earlier years was closely allied with colonial exploration in Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the polar regions, and Central Asia, especially associated with names of explorers such as Livingstone, Stanley, Scott, Shackleton, Hunt, and Hillary. The society's collections are an unrivalled repository of this history, with more than 2 million items tracing 500 yrs. (years) of geographical discovery and research that continue to the present day. Included are more than 1 million maps and atlases, 500,000 images (photographs, sketches, art works, and films), and books, reports, and manuscripts. Recent initiatives have focused on “unlocking these archives”—that is, opening public access and adding educational value. Reinter-pretations by community groups are at the core of the current Crossing Continents project and associated exhibitions, for example.

The society has devoted much attention to education and was responsible for both the incorporation of the study of geography in schools at the turn of the 20th century and the first university positions in the discipline. With the advent of a more systematic study of geography, the IBG was formed in 1933 by some society fellows as a sister body to the society. RGS and IBG coexisted for 60 yrs. until they merged in January 1995 to create the RGS (with the IBG).

Today, the society continues to influence educational discussion and debates both in schools and higher education—the director serves in an advisory role to government—and is integrally involved in developing benchmark statements for the discipline and advocates for the position and funding of the discipline in schools and universities. The society established the case for further support for geography teaching at school in discussions with government between 2004 and 2006. As a result, since 2006 the RGS-IBG has been a lead partner, with the Geographical Association, in the Action Plan for Geography. This 5-yr. initiative, funded by the U.K. government, aims to inspire and support school teachers in their task to inform, engage, and enthuse young people with geography. In addition, through Geography Outdoors, the focus of much of the society's work with young people remains on fieldwork, exploration, and discovery, engaging youth from many backgrounds in the United Kingdom and overseas.

...