RSGS: helping to make the connections between people, places & the planet
motivational stories of adventure expertise on vital current issues
inspirational insights into people, places & planet
34 inspiring speakers • 91 fascinating talks • 14 locations
Timothy Allen’s multi-award-winning documentaries have taken him to every corner of the globe. With wonderful images taken over two years as the official stills photographer of the television series Human Planet, he offers a behind-the-scenes look at this awe-inspiring landmark series that marvels at mankind’s relationship with nature in the world today.
John Beatty shares superb images and captivating stories from 25 years of assignments in 40 countries. Widely acclaimed as one of the most exciting nature, travel and adventure
photographers, John aims in his work
to capture “the timeless rhythms
of the natural world, its beauty and simplicity, and man’s place within it”.
Hilary Bradt, co-founder of Bradt Travel Guides, had dreamed since her pony-obsessed childhood of taking a long-distance ride. Short treks in Ethiopia and the Peruvian Andes were just rehearsals for the real thing – a thousand-mile journey on horseback, solo, through the west of Ireland.
Prof John Briggs explores some of the challenges facing Africa as it enters the second decade of the 21st century. Where are we now with the HIV/AIDS epidemic? What about the supposed failure of small-scale agriculture – is it time for radical action? And what about the failure of
aid to transform the lives of Africans – is it time for even more radical action?
Prof Roger Crofts describes how, despite the popular view that Iceland is the land of ice and fire, water is its main commodity and the source of many ‘environment vs development’ disputes. Roger illustrates his talk with examples from the interior desert, the great wetland areas, and the development of the aluminium economy in this amazing country.
Matt Dickinson takes us on a breathtaking journey of discovery based on his extraordinary filming career. An award-winning writer and expedition documentary maker, he reveals the highs and lows that have formed the highlights of his work, saying “I have always been fascinated by risk takers, the motivation that spurs them on, and how explorers react in moments of life and death drama.”
Tessa Dunlop, a broadcaster, writer and historian with a special interest in Romanian culture and history, speaks on her 20 year odyssey though modern day Romania.
Tim Emmett has been a professional climber for 15 years, putting up new routes across the globe, often BASE jumping from them, climbing probably the most outrageous ice climb in the world, at Helmcken Falls (eight pitches of severely overhanging ‘spray ice’ next to a thundering waterfall), and setting off to the Himalayas with a legendary French team and his wingsuit.
Matt Dickinson - Wild Images
Tessa Dunlop - Romania
Inspiring PeopleIllustrated Public Talks
Royal Scottish Geographical Society
2012-2013
“The best national talks programme in Scotland”
Tim Emmett - Global Freezing!
open
to everyone
free for
rSGS memberS
come and
join uS!
Timothy Allen - Human Planet
Julian Monroe Fisher - Journey to Katanga
Richard Jeynes - The Legion Project
Aberdeen • MacRobert Building, University of Aberdeen, King’s College, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA - talk marked * is in Fraser Noble Building, University of Aberdeen, King’s College, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE
1 Oct 12 Mike Parker On the Map: Cartography and National Identity 5 Nov 12 Matt Dickinson Wild Images 3 Dec 12 Martin Parry & Martin Price What Does Climate Change Mean for Britain? * 7 Jan 13 John Pilkington Georgia to Afghanistan 4 Feb 13 Bruce Gittings The Geography of Secret Places 4 Mar 13 Roz Savage The Human Condition: An Ocean Rower’s Perspective
Ayr • Council Chambers, Ayr Town Hall, New Bridge Street, Ayr, KA7 1JX - talk marked * is in Kyle Academy, Overmills Road, Ayr, KA7 3LR
26 Sep 12 Jim McNeill Exploring the Polar Regions * 24 Oct 12 Richard Jeynes The Legion Project: Exploring Morocco’s Forts 28 Nov 12 Jasper Winn Paddle: A Long Way Around Ireland 30 Jan 13 Hilary Bradt West Ireland on Horseback 27 Feb 13 Mikael Strandberg Expedition Yemen on Camel 27 Mar 13 Julian Monroe Fisher Journey to Katanga: An Expedition into the Past
Borders • Heriot Watt University, Scottish Borders Campus, Netherdale, Galashiels, TD1 3HF - talk marked * is in The Eastgate Theatre, Eastgate, Peebles, EH45 8AD
25 Sep 12 Jim McNeill Exploring the Polar Regions 23 Oct 12 Richard Jeynes The Legion Project: Exploring Morocco’s Forts 27 Nov 12 Jasper Winn Paddle: A Long Way Around Ireland * 29 Jan 13 Hilary Bradt West Ireland on Horseback 26 Feb 13 Mikael Strandberg Expedition Yemen on Camel 26 Mar13 Julian Monroe Fisher Journey to Katanga: An Expedition into the Past
Dumfries • Easterbrook Hall, The Crichton, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4TA24 Sep 12 Jim McNeill Exploring the Polar Regions 22 Oct 12 Richard Jeynes The Legion Project: Exploring Morocco’s Forts 26 Nov 12 Jasper Winn Paddle: A Long Way Around Ireland 28 Jan 13 Hilary Bradt West Ireland on Horseback 25 Feb 13 Mikael Strandberg Expedition Yemen on Camel 25 Mar 13 Julian Monroe Fisher Journey to Katanga: An Expedition into the Past
Dundee • Tower Extension, University of Dundee, Perth Road, Dundee, DD1 4HN2 Oct 12 Mike Parker On the Map: Cartography and National Identity 6 Nov 12 Matt Dickinson Wild Images 4 Dec 12 Andy Torbet Operation Iceberg: Arctic Science, Adventure & Film-making 8 Jan 13 John Pilkington Georgia to Afghanistan 5 Feb 13 Sara Wheeler Where Penguins Fear to Tread: Tales from the Polar Regions 5 Mar 13 Roz Savage The Human Condition: An Ocean Rower’s Perspective
Dunfermline • Carnegie Hall, East Port, Dunfermline, KY12 7JA - talk marked * is in St Andrew’s Erskine Church of Scotland Centre, Robertson Road, Dunfermline, KY12 0BF
3 Oct 12 Mike Parker On the Map: Cartography and National Identity 7 Nov 12 Matt Dickinson Wild Images * 5 Dec 12 Roger Crofts Iceland: A Land of Water Battles 9 Jan 13 John Pilkington Georgia to Afghanistan 6 Feb 13 Sara Wheeler Where Penguins Fear to Tread: Tales from the Polar Regions 6 Mar 13 Roz Savage The Human Condition: An Ocean Rower’s Perspective
Edinburgh afternoon • Appleton Tower, 11 Crichton Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9LE - talk marked * is in Teviot Lecture Theatre, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG * 19 Sep 12 Kapka Kassabova A Century of Tango: The Global Story of Argentine Tango 17 Oct 12 Tim Emmett Global Freezing! Climbing the Ice Wall 21 Nov 12 Jock Wishart Rowing the Arctic 23 Jan 13 Lewis Gordon Pugh Swimming on Top of the World 20 Feb 13 Tessa Dunlop Romania: Learning to Love Europe’s Wild Child 20 Mar 13 Jason Lewis Expedition 360: Around the World by Human Power
Edinburgh evening • Appleton Tower, 11 Crichton Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9LE - talk marked * is in George Square Lecture Theatre, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LK
4 Oct 12 Mike Parker On the Map: Cartography and National Identity 8 Nov 12 Ian Mitchell Up the Rocky Mountain Spine * 6 Dec 12 John Beatty Wild Vision 10 Jan 13 John Pilkington Georgia to Afghanistan 7 Feb 13 Sara Wheeler Where Penguins Fear to Tread: Tales from the Polar Regions 7 Mar 12 Roz Savage The Human Condition: An Ocean Rower’s Perspective
Julian Monroe Fisher is an explorer noted primarily for his exploration of the African continent. To date, Julian has conducted expeditions in 85 countries and has led six successful expeditions to the African continent (four sanctioned as Explorers Club flag expeditions).
Bruce Gittings links remarkable tales of wartime history with fieldwork in modern landscapes, maps and high resolution aerial imagery, to take us to some lesser known features of places we might think we know.
Richard Jeynes, a motor-biking archaeologist, leads the Legion Project to locate and record the remains of Legion activity in Morocco. Using a mixture of primary sources, historic mapping and aerial imagery, sites are located on the ground and then surveyed by teams of volunteers from a range of backgrounds.
Kapka Kassabova shares an intimate tour of tango and its rich history, from the 19th century slums of Buenos Aires and Montevideo to its cultish global reach today. Kapka tells the story of her obsession with the world’s most passionate dance, described as ‘a sad thought that can be danced’, and shows why it is recognised as world cultural heritage.
Dan Kieran asks if we really travel any more, or if we just arrive. Besides extolling the virtues of ‘staycation’ holidaying, Dan argues that we need to bin the brochure, glide rather than fly, embrace disaster, be epic in our travel pursuits, and immerse ourselves in the life-changing experience of true journeying.
Neil Laughton has completed the Explorers Grand Slam, climbing the highest mountain on each continent and skiing to the Geographic North and South Poles. He has also made 12 first ascents in Greenland, trekked unsupported across South Georgia, circumnavigated the UK on a jet-ski, and piloted the world’s first road-legal bio-fuelled flying car 10,000km from London to Timbuktu.
Jason Lewis, an adventurer, author, and environmental activist specialising in human-powered endeavours, became the first person to circumnavigate the Earth without using motors or sails – by walking,
Afternoon talks (Edinburgh & Glasgow only) start at 2.15pm. All other talks start at 7.30pm. Details are correct at the time of going to print (August 2012) but may be subject to change. Please see www.rsgs.org for the latest information.
Kapka Kassabova - A Century of Tango
Glasgow afternoon • Renfield St Stephens Church Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JP4 Oct 12 Mike Parker On the Map: Cartography and National Identity 8 Nov 12 Ian Mitchell Up the Rocky Mountain Spine 6 Dec 12 John Beatty Wild Vision 10 Jan 13 John Briggs 21st Century Challenges for Africa 7 Feb 13 Robert Rogerson Planning Legacy: Glasgow 2014 and its Impact on the City 7 Mar 13 Neil Laughton Adventures on Seven Continents
Glasgow evening • Boyd Orr Building, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ19 Sep 12 Kapka Kassabova A Century of Tango: The Global Story of Argentine Tango 17 Oct 12 Tim Emmett Global Freezing! Climbing the Ice Wall 21 Nov 12 Jock Wishart Rowing the Arctic 23 Jan 13 Lewis Gordon Pugh Swimming on Top of the World 20 Feb 13 Tessa Dunlop Romania: Learning to Love Europe’s Wild Child 20 Mar 13 Jason Lewis Expedition 360: Around the World by Human Power
Helensburgh • Victoria Halls, Sinclair Street, Helensburgh, G84 8TU27 Sep 12 Jim McNeill Exploring the Polar Regions 25 Oct 12 Richard Jeynes The Legion Project: Exploring Morocco’s Forts 29 Nov 12 Jasper Winn Paddle: A Long Way Around Ireland 31 Jan 13 Hilary Bradt West Ireland on Horseback 28 Feb 13 Mikael Strandberg Expedition Yemen on Camel 28 Mar 13 Julian Monroe Fisher Journey to Katanga: An Expedition into the Past
Inverness • The Highland Council Chamber, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX8 Oct 12 Robert Penn It’s All About the Bike 12 Nov 12 Andy Torbet Operation Iceberg: Arctic Science, Adventure & Film-making
10 Dec 12 John Beatty Wild Vision 14 Jan 13 Timothy Allen Human Planet 11 Feb 13 Dan Kieran The Idle Traveller 11 Mar 13 Roz Savage The Human Condition: An Ocean Rower’s Perspective
Kirkcaldy • School of Midwifery, University of Dundee Fife Campus, 5 Forth Ave, Kirkcaldy, KY2 5YS17 Sep 12 Kapka Kassabova A Century of Tango: The Global Story of Argentine Tango 15 Oct 12 Tim Emmett Global Freezing! Climbing the Ice Wall 19 Nov 12 Jock Wishart Rowing the Arctic 21 Jan 13 Stuart Monro Life on the Rocks 18 Feb 13 Tessa Dunlop Romania: Learning to Love Europe’s Wild Child 18 Mar 13 Jason Lewis Expedition 360: Around the World by Human Power
Perth • Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ - talk marked * is in Battleby Conference Centre, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW
16 Oct 12 Tim Emmett Global Freezing! Climbing the Ice Wall 6 Nov 12 Ian Mitchell Up the Rocky Mountain Spine 4 Dec 12 Mike & Karen Small The Fife Diet * 11 Dec 12 John Beatty Wild Vision 15 Jan 13 Timothy Allen Human Planet 12 Feb 13 Dan Kieran The Idle Traveller 5 Mar 13 Neil Laughton Adventures on Seven Continents
Stirling • Logie Lecture Theatre, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA - talks marked * are in Albert Halls, Albert Place, Dumbarton Road, Stirling, FK8 2QL
* 10 Oct 12 Neil Ross Antarctica’s Hidden World 14 Nov 12 Andy Torbet Operation Iceberg: Arctic Science, Adventure & Film-making 12 Dec 12 John Beatty Wild Vision 16 Jan 13 Timothy Allen Human Planet * 13 Feb 13 Dan Kieran The Idle Traveller 13 Mar 13 Roz Savage The Human Condition: An Ocean Rower’s Perspective
cycling and inline skating across five continents, and kayaking, swimming, rowing and pedalling a boat across the rivers, seas and oceans.
Jim McNeill has over 25 years of experience in the Arctic, where he has guided many groups including BBC film crews. His expeditions give him regular opportunities to monitor polar bear populations for the Norwegian Polar Institute, and to put together a yearly scientific program for scientists to monitor the effects of climate change.
Ian Mitchell tells of his visits to the Rocky Mountain Region, particularly his most recent trip along and around Highway 89 from the Mexican to the Canadian borders, through Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, in search of cowboys and Indians, pre-Columbian civilizations, Mormons and mineworkers.
Prof Stuart Monro, Scientific Director at Our Dynamic Earth, is a leading practitioner in promoting science to a wide audience. Stuart has over 34 years of research experience with the British Geological Survey, and is currently Scientific Director of the Edinburgh Consortium for Rural Research.
Mike Parker is the author of Map Addict and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s On the Map series. His obsession with maps began from an early age with his compulsion to explore, to dig deep into the layers of history and identity. He muses on mapping and national identity, a pertinent topic in Scotland right now.
Prof Martin Parry & Prof Martin Price discuss the impact of climate change at global, UK and Scottish levels. Martin Parry is Visiting Professor at The Centre for Environmental Policy, and Visiting Research Fellow at The Grantham Institute, both at Imperial College London. Martin Price is Director of the Centre for Mountain Studies and Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Mountain Development, both at Perth College UHI.
open to everyone • £8 for adults • free for RSGS members
John Beatty - Wild Vision
Mike Parker - On the Map
* indicates a different venue
RSGS members support the educational work of the Society and may attend any of the talks listed here for free. If you are not already a member, please consider joining and supporting our work.
The annual membership rates are:• £54 Joint • £38 Single • £25 Student/SAGT
To join, please complete and return the form available at www.rsgs.org/joining or email [email protected] or phone 01738 455050.
For further information, please visit our website www.rsgs.org
Join the RSGS and get all these talks for free, plus quarterly editions of The Geographer!
Robert Penn rides a bicycle to get to work, sometimes for work, to keep fit, to bathe in air and sunshine, to travel, to go shopping, to stay sane, to savour the physical and emotional fellowship of riding with friends, to escape, for fun, occasionally to impress someone, to scare himself, and to hear his boy laugh.
John Pilkington, a popular BBC journalist and broadcaster, followed a spectacular branch of the Silk Road from the Caucasus across the Caspian Sea to Samarkand. Turning south-east, he explored the High Pamirs of Tajikistan and Afghanistan (well-known to Marco Polo) before finishing in Kashgar, China’s so-called ‘Crossroads of Asia’.
Lewis Gordon Pugh, an environmental campaigner, maritime lawyer and endurance swimmer, was the first person to complete a long-distance swim in every ocean of the world. He frequently swims in vulnerable ecosystems to draw attention to their plight.
Dr Robert Rogerson, Senior Lecturer in Urban and Social Geography at the University of Strathclyde, is Legacy Research Co-ordinator for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Legacy is felt in areas such as sports and physical activity, community pride and identity, volunteering and tourism, involving many communities and people across Glasgow.
Dr Neil Ross tells the story of the Lake Ellsworth project, one of the most exciting and ambitious explorations of our time. In December 2012, a team of scientists and engineers will drill through 3km of solid ice into a buried Antarctic lake to search for life forms in the water and clues to past climate in the lake-bed sediments.
Roz Savage holds four world records for ocean rowing, including as the first woman to row three oceans. She has rowed over 15,000 miles, taken around 5,000,000 oarstrokes, and spent over 500 days of her life at sea in a 23-foot rowboat. She uses her ocean rowing adventures to inspire
action on the top environmental challenges facing us today.
Mike & Karen Small established the Fife Diet, which has developed from a small number of people dedicated to eating ‘from Fife’ for a year, to a much larger consumer network of people passionate about local food, trying to re-localise more generally and to explore what sustainable food might be.
Mikael Strandberg travelled through Yemen together with two friends, Amin and Ahmed, and the camel Antar. They travelled over 380km of rough terrain from Zabid to Sanaa, amidst the threat of a possible civil war, just to show that Yemen is different to how it is portrayed in global media.
Andy Torbet is an extreme adventurer, presenter and zoologist. He is a highly-qualified, experienced and respected cave, deep mixed gas and commercial diver, and freediver. He holds some of the highest qualifications as a mountaineering and climbing instructor, caver and sea-kayaker.
Sara Wheeler uncovers the beautiful, brutal reality of the Polar regions, telling stories about her seven months in Antarctica and many visits to the Arctic, including anecdotes, science, and the difference between the two places.
Jasper Winn recounts, with excerpts of live music, his three-and-a-half month solo sea kayak trip around Ireland’s thousand mile coastline. His knowledge of the country’s culture, history, wildlife, literature and myths, makes for a story that goes way beyond paddling endurance.
Jock Wishart is, to date, the only man to achieve the ‘endurance double’ of walking unsupported to a Pole and rowing across an ocean. In 2011, Jock and five other oarsmen succeeded after a gruelling four-week voyage through ice-strewn Arctic waters in rowing a boat to the Magnetic North Pole.
RSGS, Lord John Murray House, 15-19 North Port, Perth, PH1 5LU Charity registered in Scotland no SC015599
RSGS: helping to make the connections between people, places & the planet
In This Edition...
The newsletter of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society
Spring 2012
National ParksWhat’s the Point?• Expert Views & Opinions: The Development of National Parks
• Off the Beaten Track: Cairngorms to Grand Canyon• Letter from Libya• On the Map: Mapping Ice in Greenland
• Bringing Learning to Life• Expert View: Wallace Broecker on Temperature & Rainfall
• Reader Offer: Scottish Hill Tracksplus other news, comments, books...
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.”John Muir
The Geographer
RSGS GEOGRAPHER SPRING THREE 17.indd 1
16/03/2012 15:53
Jason Lewis - Expedition 360
Neil Laughton - Adventures on Seven Continents
Jasper Winn - Paddle
Jock Wishart - Rowing the Arctic
Ian Mitchell - Up the Rocky Mountain Spine
Robert Penn - It’s All About the Bike
John Pilkington - Georgia to Afghanistan
Andy Torbet - Operation Iceberg
Mikael Strandberg - Expedition Yemen on Camel
Roz Savage - The Human Condition
Lewis Gordon Pugh - Swimming on Top of the World
Dan Kieran - The Idle Traveller
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