Jewel of Arabia
The Jewel of Arabia expedition will follow the route taken by British explorer Bertram Thomas in 1928 from Ras Al Hadd, the most easterly point of the Arab world, along the coast to Salalah, the second largest city in Oman. From ancient turtle nesting grounds to internationally recognised migration pitstops for thousands of wading birds, from Earthshot prize winning carbon capture innovation to the world's only non-migratory population of humpbacked whales, from frankincense groves to a future of green hydrogen and amazing raptor restaurants, Oman is awash with stories waiting to be told.
In 1932 HRH King George V approved the awarding of The Royal Geographical Society Founders Medal to Bertram Thomas in recognition of his great desert journeys. As a charity, professional body and learned society the RGS is the home of exploration, and with more than 16,000 members it reaches millions of people each year through its work to advance geography and support geographers. The Society is proud to be a Jewel of Arabia expedition partner. It will produce a range of resources to accompany the 30-day expedition, as the team pass through or close to many of Oman's biodiversity hotspots. The resources will mainly focus on KS2, KS3 and A Level, with the materials also being relevant to wider audiences. Dryland landscapes will be profiled to support A Level Geographers and there will be a focus on biodiversity and sustainability for all of the levels of study.
An ArcGIS StoryMap will show the planned route alongside accompanying information, so students and teachers can engage with the journey before it starts. This will be a ‘live’ resource as it will be updated with photographs, blogs and other media as the team make their way along the route.
The ‘Ask the Geographer’ podcast series will feature podcasts with the Expedition Leader, Mark Evans MBE FRGS.
The Society will work with the British School Muscat and provide online training tailored to schools in the Middle East, British schools overseas and schools in the UK to help them get the best out of the resources. It will provide information for young Omani citizens to consider possible work in the ‘new industries’ using Green Skills and more generally highlight opportunities for students in other countries, including the UK, including featured initiatives. Oman has set robust targets as a global green energy hub, as it concentrates on the carbon to green transition and adoption of green hydrogen, among other innovative steps. Comparisons will be drawn between life and landscapes in Oman and the UK to accompany the learning materials, drawing particularly on the experiences of those who have lived or travelled in both countries.
The Society looks forward to its important role in sharing experiences and knowledge with schools and producing resources that can be used well into the future. Resources will be provided on this page, when available.