We are delighted that the Fair Maid's House Visitor Centre will reopen at 1pm on Friday 6th May for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Starting from 6th May the Visitor Centre will be open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 1pm to 4:30pm. To celebrate, and to welcome you all back, we will be giving our first 50 visitors a free copy of Horrible Geography of Stunning Scotland!
RSGS is delighted to announce that Jo Sharp, Professor of Geography at the University of St Andrews, has been appointed as Geographer Royal for Scotland, making her the sixth individual to hold the distinguished title. With the position of Geographer Royal for Scotland, Professor Sharp will adopt the task to promote geography in Scotland, to champion Scottish geography internationally, and to better establish ‘geographical thinking’ within public life. Read more in our blog.
We were delighted to award RSGS Honorary Fellowship to Devi Sridhar, Professor and Chair of Global Public Health at the University of Edinburgh, in recognition of her invaluable research contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and for being a critical voice in communicating to the public and advising the UK and Scottish Governments. And to Richard Dixon Dixon, former Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland and WWF Scotland, for playing a huge role in Scotland’s environmental ambition, and for offering deep knowledge and wisdom throughout the NGO community. Congratulations to our newest Fellows!
We currently have three scheduled live screenings of Scotland: Our Climate Journey with RSGS Local Groups! - Monday 9th May at 7:30pm at the Old Kirk in Kirkcaldy
-Tuesday 10th May at 7:30pm at the Salutation Hotel in Perth
-Wednesday 25th May at 7:30pm at the University of Edinburgh
Admission to all screenings is by voluntary donation to help support the work of the Society. Tickets are available through Eventbrite or at door. Tickets for all events can be booked at: RSGS.org/Events.
Scotland: Our Climate Journey tells Scotland's climate journey through the past, present and future, narrated by a wide range of individuals from across the country from different sectors, offering different perspectives, but all contributing in the battle against climate change. This film will leave viewers with a sense of hope, inspiration, and renewed strength for the work ahead. If anyone would like to host or arrange a screening of the film, please get in touch with the office at enquiries@rsgs.org.
We are delighted to say that we have now held ten Meet the Expert events – designed for motivated individuals and organisations to hear from leading experts in the field of climate change and sustainability. Our last event was on biodiversity loss and protection, where we were joined by Prof Des Thompson, principal advisor on science and biodiversity at NatureScot, and Dr Deborah Long, chief officer at Scottish Environment Link.
Our next Meet the Expert event will focus on carbon accounting, where we will be joined by Dr Matthew Brander, Senior Lecturer in Carbon Accounting at Edinburgh University, Clare Wharmby, Carbon Innovation Manager at Edinburgh Climate Change Institute, and Mark Williams, Head of Sustainability and Climate Change at Scottish Water. They will discuss what carbon accounting is, best practice, the tools available to help, and practical advice for organisations and business to imbed carbon accounting within their organisation.
With new content every week on our online blog (rsgs.org/blogs) there’s always something of interest. Recent additions include:
‘Don’t Look Up’ and the Quest to Engage People on Climate Change: we consider whether Netflix’s film Don’t Look Up has the ability to motivate and engage people about the climate crisis.
The Cost of GDP: RSGS Chief Executive Mike Robinson considers how a country’s GDP may be a measure of its economic prosperity but fails to highlight the damage done in pursuit of wealth.
Jane Digby el-Mezrab: From Ballroom Conquests to Bedouin Camps: RSGS Writer-in-Residence Jo Woolf explores the remarkable life of Jane Digby, who inspired a new character in the recent BBC adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days.
Neil Armstrong, Livingstone Medallist: 50 Years since Neil Armstrong received the RSGS Livingstone Medal at Usher Hall in Edinburgh, RSGS Writer-in-Residence Jo Woolf reflects on his journey to becoming the first man on the Moon.
