In the latest edition of the RSGS e-news, we feature:
Our new Future Generations Fund appeal to better resource the work we do for young people. The presentation of the Tivy Education Medal to the brilliant team behind the Chalk Talks.
We announce more speakers for our 2022-23 face-to-face Inspiring People talks, and we are delighted that RSGS CEO Mike Robinson has been awarded with an Honorary Doctorate from The University of Stirling.
At RSGS, we want to help young people more than ever.
Every day, the media is awash with bad news of existential and acute crises, from biodiversity loss and climate change to rising cost of living and food insecurity. Young people are struggling to cope with mounting pressures and expectations in a world that is changing fast. Amongst all the major issues that threaten their future world, they are experiencing a crisis of uncertainty and anxiety. They have real concerns about the fragile state of the world, and they feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenges they face. They need our help, to protect their futures.
we can encourage and support more young people to study, learn about and explore the world
we can provide individual and group mentoring and guidance
we can create exciting and rewarding opportunities for participation
we can empower more young people to feel they have control over their futures
we can provide outlets for their concerns, and use our contacts and platforms to give them more of a voice
we can use our networks and strategies to help solve some of the most critical global issues
we can help influence policy to ensure that science and young people's interests are being upheld
Of course, we can't do it all and we can't reach everyone. But with your help we would like to build a Future Generations Fund to better resource the work we can do with and for young people, to provide support for young people directly and indirectly, now and into the future, and to underpin our future-focused policy and educational work.
Please help us to bring this special legacy to our young people today. Together, let's inspire future generations.
We were delighted to present the Tivy Education Medal to the group of volunteers and inspirational teachers, that created the Chalk Talks online geography lessons for Scottish secondary students forced to work and study at home during lockdown.
The team created 26 virtual Chalk Talks lessons covering the entire National 5 and Higher Geography curriculum, from glaciers to coasts, cities to deserts, and everything in between. Collectively, the lessons have had a fantastic response, accumulating over 35,000 views on RSGS YouTube, and remain a popular online resource despite restrictions now easing. The staff from Dollar Academy, Morrison’s Academy, Boroughmuir High School, Speyside High School, and Kilgraston School, were welcomed at a special event at RSGS headquarters and were each awarded medals and RSGS Honorary Fellowship for their exemplary and inspirational contribution to teaching.
Thank you again to all who donated to our Helping Hand for Schools appeal for making the project possible.
Live Inspiring People talks will be making a return this September! We have some amazing speakers already lined up to give talks at our 13 Local Groups, including adventure kayaker Sal Montgomery, adventurer and explorer Alice Morrison, landscape photographer Colin Prior, climate and energy scientist Professor Stephen Peake, author and TV presenter Cameron McNeish, and geomorphologist Professor Colin Ballantyne. Several more speakers have since been confirmed including Elise Downing, who ran 5000 miles around the coast of Great Britain, and Rowan Hooper author of How to Spend a Trillion Dollars.
Our Chief Executive, Mike Robinson, was delighted to have been presented with an Honorary Doctorate by The University of Stirling, during their Summer 2022 graduations, as one of four individuals believed to be making a positive difference in their respective fields. Mike, alongside endurance swimmer and environmental diplomat Lewis Pugh, women and children’s rights campaigner Lydia Okroj, and Paralympic gold medallist David Smith MBE, became Doctors of the University, alongside 1,925 students graduating from the University’s five faculties. In receiving his doctorate, he was recognised for his outstanding commitment to delivering and embedding climate solutions to protect the world, through driving legislation, informing policy, and educating thousands in climate and geographical understanding.
