Our History

A Strong Foundation

Established in 1884, we are one of the oldest geographical societies in the world, with a distinguished history of supporting and promoting geographical education, research and exploration. We have strong links with some of the most significant figures of the last 150 years. Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton was our Secretary in 1904-05. Leading mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, pioneering astronaut Neil Armstrong, endurance explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, travel writer Dame Freya Stark, broadcasting legend Sir David Attenborough, journalist and activist Naomi Klein, spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, and many others have worked with us.

A Spark of Inspiration

The idea for a national society of geography in Scotland was first proposed by the 24-year old John George Bartholomew, of the Bartholomew map-making company in Edinburgh. He believed that Scotland was suffering from many missed opportunities for the development of geographical education, science, trade and political knowledge of the world. He introduced the idea to the daughter of missionary explorer David Livingstone, Agnes Livingstone-Bruce, herself a keen geographer with a particular interest in Africa.

With an outline for the proposed society and with the support of Professor James Geikie, a Professor of Geology at the University of Edinburgh who had an interest in the advancement of geographical research and teaching, the Scottish Geographical Society (SGS) was established in December 1884. The SGS’s first headquarters, at 80A Princes Street, Edinburgh, were officially opened by Henry Morton Stanley on 4th December 1884. Within the first month, local branches were established in Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow to accommodate the strong local interest and participation in the work of the organisation.

Early Objectives

The aims of the Society were diverse, with greater emphasis on research and education than on exploration. The first edition of the Scottish Geographical Magazine stated that “it is therefore one of the first objectives of the Scottish Geographical Society to advance the study of geography in Scotland: to impress the public with the necessity and inestimable value of a thorough knowledge of geography in a commercial, scientific or political education”.

it is therefore one of the first objectives of the Scottish Geographical Society to advance the study of geography in Scotland

The early work of the Society was supported by a diverse membership, with prominent men and (unusually for the time) women from various scientific and academic backgrounds providing a broad and intellectual emphasis to its aims, as well as members of the general public who joined to discover more about the world and the scientific and explorative activities of the day. Queen Victoria granted Royal Status to the Society in 1887.

Base Camp and Beyond

Over the years, the RSGS has relocated several times, and has moved from Edinburgh to Glasgow to Perth. The Society's rooms and offices have their own story to tell.

Conserving Heritage Fund

The Conserving Heritage Fund supports the costs of conserving and making accessible items in the RSGS collections.

Latest

Sustainable Perth Conference 2020

Perth has a quality of environment and landscape that few cities can match and makes it one of the healthiest places in the country to live, work and grow up. Being one of the smallest of the seven cities in Scotland, there is a real opportunity to lead and showcase sustainable solutions and become the envy of Europe.
Net Zero: Is Hydrogen Over-Hyped?

"I believe that hydrogen has a limited role in decarbonisation, and that businesses with a vested interest in promoting hydrogen are doing so at the expense of British consumers," writes Tom Baxter, Professor of Chemical Engineering
Litter in Lancashire: How Covid-19 Has Accelerated the UK’s Litter Problem

"Litter has been yet another victim of the Covid-19 pandemic. As more people have ventured out into the great British countryside, their litter has followed," writes Laura Brown, a Geography Student from Lancaster University.
October 2020

October e-newsletter of the RSGS: Jeremy Bowen, Farming for 1.5, Perth Conference, Teach Meet, Climate Emergency Summit on Food, GeoQuizzical, Festival of Politics, Inspiring People At Home

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.
An Evening with Jeremy Bowen

In his talk, Jeremy will provide riveting anecdotes from a life reporting on the front line, with insight from dictators, fanatics and fundamentalists, as well as ordinary people caught up in their dangerous exploits. Expect Jeremy to cast a welcome light onto some of the most complex areas of the world.
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!