What we do

The Younger Members’ Committee organise a programme of geographical events with a strong social element, aimed at both members and the wider public. The events provide an invaluable contribution to the Society’s London activities, providing an opportunity for like-minded individuals to meet each other and to engage with geographical topics in an informal atmosphere. 

Attendees, and committee members, mostly fall into the 20-45 age group. Events are open to all, except wine tasting evenings and the Summer Garden Party, which are for over 18s. 

Other regular events include informal drinks in the Map Room following the first Monday night lecture of each month, a Christmas quiz, an opportunity to experience the Society's Collections, and the annual Microlectures evening – a series of talks by members about recent journeys, every March.

The committee is currently chaired by Annabel Illingworth. If you would like to find out more, or get involved in the Younger Members’ Committee, please contact us.

Following the submission deadline a shortlist of applicants is drawn up and invited to attend an audition, following which the successful applicants will be asked to give a 10 minute ‘microlecture’ in front of an audience in the Society’s Ondaatje Theatre. The Map Room bar will be open for drinks before and after the talks, as well as during the interval. If Covid-19 regulations don't permit the opening of the Society’s building the event will he held online.

The event is informal and aims to inspire, entertain and engage the audience about our world. Talks must have a geographical focus, sharing aspects of what was learnt on the journey. However, this is not an evening for experienced speakers and academic presentations. Rather, it is a chance to see a diverse selection of the ‘next generation’ of speakers. Those who have spoken at the microlectures event in the previous two years are not eligible to apply.

Each talk will be unique and the event will give both audience and speakers the chance to learn something about the world in which we live, and to meet other attendees. The audience will be a mixture of Society members and the interested public and will be encouraged to participate by asking questions and discussing with other attendees.

Although the event is organised by the Younger Members’ Committee, there is no expectation that either the speakers or the audience will necessarily be ‘young’. Speakers have ranged from under 20 to over 60, and the audience will be wider still.