Medallists

Since 1888, we have regularly awarded Honorary Fellowships (FRSGS) in recognition of individuals' services to the Society or to the wider discipline of geography. And since 1890, when we awarded our first Gold Medal to the explorer HM Stanley, the RSGS’s prestigious Medals have allowed us to recognise outstanding contributions made by individuals (or occasionally by organisations) in a wide range of geographical fields.

Over the past 130 years, we have awarded more than 750 Honorary Fellowships and nearly 400 Medals! Award presentation events have given RSGS audiences the opportunity to meet and to hear stories from some of the greatest names of their day – people who have excelled in geographical activities, from exploration to education.

We welcome nominations for new Medallists and Fellows at any time. If you would like to propose someone for an award, please complete and submit this online form or this Word document.

Scottish Geographical Medal

The Scottish Geographical Medal is the RSGS’s highest accolade, awarded for conspicuous merit and a performance of world-wide repute. It was awarded first in 1890 as the Gold Medal, and from 1933 as the Scottish Geographical Medal. Read more

Coppock Research Medal

The Coppock Research Medal is the RSGS’s highest research-specific award, awarded for an outstanding contribution to geographical knowledge through research and publication. Read more

Livingstone Medal

The Livingstone Medal is awarded for outstanding service of a humanitarian nature with a clear geographical dimension. It was awarded first in 1901. Read more

Mungo Park Medal

The Mungo Park Medal is awarded for an outstanding contribution to geographical knowledge through exploration or adventure in potentially hazardous physical or social environments. Read more

Shackleton Medal

The Shackleton Medal is awarded for leadership and citizenship in a geographical field, in particular in the fields and current themes of most concern to RSGS. Read more

Geddes Environment Medal

The Geddes Environment Medal is awarded for an outstanding practical, research or communications contribution to conservation and protection of the natural environment and the development of sustainability. Read more

Tivy Education Medal

The Tivy Education Medal is awarded for exemplary, outstanding and inspirational teaching, educational policy or work in formal and informal educational arenas. Read more

Bartholomew Globe

The Bartholomew Globe is awarded for excellence in the assembly, delivery or application of geographical information through cartography, GIS and related techniques. Read more

President's Award

The President’s Award recognises achievement and celebrates the impact of geographers’ work on wider society. Read more

Honorary Fellowship

An Honorary Fellowship is awarded in recognition of services to the Society and to the wider discipline of geography. Since 2008, medallists of the RSGS have automatically been made Honorary Fellows. Read more

Newbigin Prize

The Newbigin Prize is awarded for the most notable contribution to the Scottish Geographical Journal, or any other RSGS publication, during the previous year. Read more

W S Bruce Medal

The W S Bruce Medal is awarded for some notable contribution to Zoology, Botany, Geology, Meteorology, Oceanography or Geography, where new knowledge has been gained through a personal visit to polar regions. Read more

Bronze Medal

The Bronze Medal was awarded for outstanding public service in which Geography has played an important part, either by exploration, by administration, or in other directions where its principles have been applied to the benefit of the human race. Read more

Latest

Carbon Choices

Carbon Choices tells the greatest story on Earth: how humans came to emit 40 billion tonnes of an invisible gas each year, changing the chemistry of the atmosphere and the oceans, and steadily destroying the life support systems they depend on.

Building Back Better

"A silver lining of this awful pandemic would be to emerge from one crisis with the foresight, confidence and optimism to tackle the climate crisis too..." writes Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of RSGS

Time to Teach

"As with many things, the COVID-19 pandemic has begun to expose cracks in those areas of our society which have been de-prioritised or starved of funds during this past decade of austerity." Writes Chief Executive of RSGS, Mike Robinson

August 2020

August e-newsletter of the RSGS: Details about the 2020-21 Inspiring People talks series, which will be held online for the first time.

Departing the Island on 'The Edge of the World’

"Ninety years ago, on August 29, 1930, the last 36 residents of St Kilda were evacuated. Huddled on HMS Harebell they were conveyed from Village Bay on Hirta to mainland Scotland." Writes Collections Volunteer, Kenny Maclean FRSGS.

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland: An Interview

After 14 years, Mike Robinson stepped down from the charity coalition he established: Stop Climate Chaos Scotland. In this interview with Jo Woolf, he speaks about his lifelong passion for environmental issues and his hopes for the future.

Shackleton at the RSGS: A Sketch

This is an attempt to explain why there are no newspaper cuttings in the RSGS archives from early 1904 until late 1905. This is approximately the length of Shackleton’s tenure as Secretary...

What an Emergency Looks Like

"In the case of coronavirus, despite some amount of confusion, at least we now know what an emergency response looks like," writes Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of RSGS.

COP26 Postponed

"Postponing the relevant UN COPs was inevitable, but we need to see them as essential pre-planning, and re-schedule them as soon as circumstance allows," writes Mike Robinson, RSGS Chief Executive.

Erskine Beveridge: the Dunfermline Geographer

"Beveridge's photographs could be dismissed as a romantic view of Scotland but, as well as castles and mountains, they also capture a historical geography and social history..." writes Bruce Gittings FRSGS

An Interview with Levison Wood

“It’s about showing what a region is really like through the eyes of the people who live there.” Explorer Levison Wood speaks to RSGS Writer-in-Residence, Jo Woolf.

The Climate Emergency: One Year On

"Although coronavirus is quite rightly dominating our thoughts and immediate concerns, the climate emergency hasn't gone away." An interview with Mike Robinson and Professor Dave Reay.

An Interview with Calum Maclean

For our Young Geographer magazine published in 2019, our team of Editors sat down with BBC presenter and wild-swimmer Calum Maclean. The magazine article was published in Gaelic, but we're pleased to share the English version online!

The Next Normal

"The end of a world is also the beginning of a world. Right now, the world we inhabited – but did not really know – has ended. The new beginning, the ‘next normal’, is already happening" writes Mike Elm.