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Talks on demand

Explore our diverse collection of event recordings, talks, and podcasts at your convenience to discover inspiration from a range of engaging speakers.

Enjoy the flexibility of watching these recordings in your own time.

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Lecture

Through Siam with a camera - John Thomson

In 1865 John Thomson travelled to Siam and photographed the King and his subjects creating a unique record of the country. This talk revisits the original negatives to see Siam as recorded by Thomson’s lens in 1865.

Lecture

Overnight adventures

Our speaker, Dan Richards, focuses on nocturnal stories past and present, beginning with the time he got benighted in the Swiss Alps, on the trail of his great grand aunt Dorothy Pilley’s mountaineering legacy, before going on to discuss the various adventures and journeys after dark which feature in his new book, Overnight.

Discussion

The hole in the ozone layer

Join us to mark the 40th anniversary of one of the most significant environmental discoveries of our time, the ozone hole.

Lecture

Mulu: a remarkable rainforest mountain in Sarawak

Dr Paul Chai was the senior forest botanist on the survey of the Gunung Mulu National Park by the Society and the Sarawak Forestry Department (1977-1978). Now, his son Alvin will join us and highlight past and future research opportunities for those visiting this legendary UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Discussion

The Mulu (Sarawak) expedition 1977-1978

Hear Robin and his colleagues share their first-hand stories, sounds, artefacts, maps and images associated with the original geographical survey of the Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak by the Society and the Foresty Department in 1977-1978, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Webinar

Digital twins in the transport sector #2 - 16 April

The Society and Ordnance Survey are collaborating on a lunchtime webinar series focusing on digital twins. This webinar will look at digital twins in the transport sector.

Monday night lecture

The Mappa Mundi project: changing the world by changing how we view it

Inspired by a map of the world made in 1300 by German nuns, Sandi Toksvig is looking to reassess how we chart what we know.

Monday night lecture

Informing action: Esmond B. Martin lecture

As one of this year’s Esmond B. Martin RGS Prize recipients, Dr Jake Wall will talk about his work mapping and visualising the GPS data from collared African elephants across the continent.

Lecture

Integrating maps and instruments in art

Kristina Chan will discuss her current art exhibition, Habitable Climes, which includes images of instruments in our Collections. Attendees will be able to see the instruments following the talk.

microlecture

Called by the Carpathians

Twenty years after first connecting with these mountains, Jeffrey Hartman returns to launch a rehabilitation program teaching snow sports to Ukrainian war veterans.

microlecture

Blue-eyed Sevan: struggles above and below the surface

As Tenny Adamian attempts a paddleboard circumnavigation of the largest lake in the Caucasus, its environmental challenge is revealed.

microlecture

Across Armenia

Katya Guryeva runs the Transcaucasian Trail, supported by her partner Jonas Wilcks as crew captain. Over 22 days, they learn what it really takes to complete a dream adventure as ambitious amateurs.