Founder's Medal: Dr Alan Baker

Dr Alan Baker is recognised for his outstanding scholarship on the historical geography of England and of France.

For over 40 years, he has been at the forefront of historical geography, through sustained high quality intellectual inquiry, that extends from pioneering work on the field systems of Kent, to detailed investigations of landscape change in nineteenth and early twentieth century France.

Throughout his career he has demonstrated imaginative leadership, undertaken huge amounts of editorial work, fostered international collaborations, and nurtured many younger scholars.  Worldwide, the strong standing of historical geography today is in large part owing to Dr Baker’s unstinting efforts.

Dr Baker received the Gill Memorial Award of the RGS in 1974, awarded to young researchers who have shown great potential. That potential has been fully realised, and after a long career at the University of Cambridge, he is recognised through the award of the Founder’s Medal.

  Patron's Medal: Professor Lord Nicholas Stern

Professor Lord Nicholas Stern is a world renowned economist and expert on climate change.

He has devoted his career to understanding economic development and promoting the global relief of poverty. His work ranges from the local - community-based field research in villages in India - to the global - his work on international policy in climate change. 

The ‘Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change’, published in October 2006, is arguably the most important report of the last decade on climate change.

With remarkable clarity, it represents an official ‘tipping point’ - moving discussion from ‘science’ to ‘business and public policy’, from ‘causes and impacts’ to ‘mitigation and adaptation’. At the core of the report is recognition of the critical importance of the geography of climate change, its physical and human dimensions, and the ethical imperative for action.

Professor Lord Nicholas Stern receives the Patron’s Medal for his outstanding contributions in leading the world to respond responsibly and ethically in the face of human induced climate change – probably the greatest environmental, political and social challenge in the 21st century.
 

  Victoria Medal: Professor Philip Rees

Professor Philip Rees is one of the most eminent population geographers in the world today.

His research output is exceptional, with contributions on population projections and methodologies, ethnic minority populations; the geography of mortality, and sub-national migration.

He has played a key role in establishing geography as the discipline that is leading the intellectual analysis of population and demographic change. His many other scholarly and leadership activities include his work with the Economic and Social Research Council for which he was the architect of the current ‘Understanding Population Trends and Processes’ programme.

He regularly advises on national statistics and population censuses and has contributed to consultancy projects for a wide range of international, national, regional and local organisations. He has been a leading player in the Society’s Population Research Group and internationally, holding visiting fellowships in countries from the Netherlands to Australia.

Professor Philip Rees receives the Victoria Medal for his conspicuous merit in research in population geography.

  Busk Medal: Professor Janet Hooke

Professor Janet Hooke is recognised for her contributions to field-based research in river, coastal and semi-arid environments.

Throughout her work, she has demonstrated the contribution of physical geography to environmental management, to conservation and to policy. Her work has raised awareness of the value of field based research, and she has also played important roles in supporting and promoting the activities of geographical organisations.

Her research has advanced understanding of river channel patterns in Arizona, the role of vegetation for restoration and mitigation of desertified areas in Spain, and coastal environments in Hampshire.

She has served as general editor of the Nature Conservation Guides and worked very successfully with a wide range of bodies, including the Environment Agency, English Nature, MAFF and DEFRA.

Professor Janet Hooke receives the Busk Medal for her contributions to conservation research and fieldwork abroad.

  Cherry Kearton Medal & Award: Simon King

The Cherry Kearton Medal and Award, for a traveller concerned with the study or practice of natural history and photography, is awarded to Simon King.

Combining a deep passion for natural history, extensive professional experience, and infectious curiosity to discover more about the world in which we live, Simon King is one of the most experienced and influential natural history cinematographers.

In the making of ‘The Life of Mammals’, ‘Planet Earth’, ‘Springwatch’, ‘Big Cat Live’, Simon King has travelled across the globe pursuing unique field opportunities; capturing extraordinary footage of wildlife, habitats and landscapes; and sharing an underlying sense of wonder in, and respect for, the natural world.

  Murchison Award: Professor Jenny Robinson

The Murchison Award for publications judged to contribute most to geographical science in preceding years goes to Professor Jenny Robinson for her book Ordinary Cities: Between Modernity and Development.

In Ordinary Cities, Professor Robinson challenges dominant urban theories. Drawing on her vast experience of work in southern Africa, as well as her knowledge of cities in Europe and North America, she challenges urban theorists to be more cosmopolitan and to abandon categories of First / Third World or Developed / Developing cities.

Rather, she argues, cities should be conceptualised and understood to be diverse, creative, modern, and distinctive. In critically examining these questions, the book opens up a whole new area in urban geography, the challenge of which is already being taken up by various strands in the discipline.

Her closing statement sums up the book eloquently ‘the field of urban studies and the task of improving life in cities will be vastly enhanced by letting cities be thought of as ordinary …'.

  Back Award: Professor Danny Dorling

Professor Dorling is one of the most policy-engaged geographers.

Whether you listen to Radio 4 or read a morning newspaper, you will hear him, or of his work, on issues of inequality, welfare and poverty.

Using rigorous spatial analysis and creative cartography, he is not only able to analyse data but to communicate it to wide audiences. His scholarship, and his willingness and ability to communicate key geographical arguments and findings relevant to public policy, makes him a most fitting recipient of this award.

Professor Dorling’s work is widely respected and cited in academic arenas, and far beyond that, amongst government agencies, welfare organisations, think-tanks and others concerned with welfare and social justice.

This is reflected not only in his funding sources, publication outlets, and media and policy profile, but also in his international standing.

  Gill Memorial Award: Dr Katie Willis

The Gill Memorial Award for great potential and achievement for those in the earlier stages of their careers is awarded to Dr Katie Willis.

Already, Katie has demonstrated tremendous achievements across all aspects of academic life - her publications on identity, gender and migration, and her text book on ‘Theories of Development’ have made a significant impact on geographical studies. Her forthcoming book on everyday development geographies promises to challenge the discipline further.

Her work is empirically and field based, and stretches widely across the world - notably China, Latin America and the West.

Moreover, Katie is an outstanding colleague - she brings unstinting generosity of time, energy and commitment to all her professional roles and collegial relationships.

Already she has served on the boards of five international academic journals, has been very active in two Research Groups, and has been a dynamic Honorary Secretary for Research at the Society.

  Cuthbert Peek Award: Dr Christine Dunn

  Ordnance Survey Award: Rebecca Kitchen

Rebecca Kitchen is an innovative and inspirational teacher who works to promote geography both within and beyond her school.

Currently she is Head of Humanities at Aylesbury High School.

She is recognised for her professional creativity in the classroom; her initiative in developing links with organisations such as the National Trust and Royal Holloway University of London; her role in promoting positive experiences of the ambassador scheme; and the interesting and innovative resources she has developed to teaching difficult topics, such as “The Geography of Conflict’ through resources for the Geography Teaching Today website.

Through all these activities, Rebecca conveys a remarkable professional commitment to the discipline..

  Ordnance Survey Award: Graham Goldup

Graham Goldup is a wonderful example of a teacher with a genuine passion for the subject and a real love of teaching.

His classroom work is innovative and he constantly strives to make geography real, relevant and topical. At a time when many local authorities are providing less support for schools, Graham has set up a successful local network – linked to both the Society and the Geographical Association – to provide speakers and workshop activities.

His work also extends further – with the British Council and the Prince’s Teaching Institute – and in the international links and partnerships he has initiated with schools.

  Taylor & Francis Award: Dr Iain Hay

The Taylor and Francis Award goes to Professor Iain Hay for the promotion of teaching and learning in higher education.

Over 20 years, Iain Hay has been a leading figure in geographical education, internationally, within Australia and in his own institution.

He has played key roles on international Editorial Boards and in advising British Higher Education projects; in supporting the US-based Geography Faculty Development Alliance which provides new academics with theoretical and practical knowledge needed to excel in their teaching careers; and in key administrative posts in geographical associations on Australia.

He is a productive scholar, writing on key skills for geographers, an excellent teaching practitioner and a tireless advocate for geographical education.

  Ness Award: Neil Oliver

The Ness Award goes to Neil Oliver, who has championed the wider understanding and popularisation of geography through his work in the media.

As one of the lead presenters on the first two series of BBC’s Coast, and now the lead presenter, Neil has brought the development and history of the British coastline to life.

Highlighting geographical issues from landform development, to coastal management, to people and their use of landscapes over time, he has engaged and informed, a wide range of audiences successfully popularising geography and the wider understanding of our world and its environments.

  Alfred Steers Dissertation Prize: Heather Dinsdale

This year's winner of the Alfred Steers Dissertation Prize for the best undergraduate dissertation submitted for a first geography degree is Heather Dinsdale of the University of Lancaster for her dissertation ‘Bodies, Homes and Institutions: Constructed and Contested Identities at the End of the Lifecourse’.

Richard Jones, University of Gloucestershire is recognised with a special commendation for his dissertation, ‘Evaluating the use of lichenometry and dendrochronology as dating methods on intra-glacial forelands’.

  Area Prize: Emilie Lagacé

In association with the Society's academic publishing partners, Wiley-Blackwell, Area awards the annual Area Prize for the best article in the journal by a new researcher.

In 2008,this prize was awarded to Emilie Lagacé for the paper ‘Science-policy guidelines as a benchmark: making the European Water Framework Directive’.