Illustrated Public Talks Royal Scottish Geographical Society

Inspiring
The best national talks

2012-2013

People

programme in Scotland

motivational stories of adventure expertise on vital current issues inspirational insights into people, places & planet 34 inspiring speakers 91 fascinating talks 14 locations
s multi-awardwinning documentaries have taken him to every corner of the globe. With wonderful images taken over two years as the ofcial stills photographer of the television series Human Planet, he offers a behind-the-scenes look at this awe-inspiring landmark series that marvels at mankinds relationship with nature in the world today.

Timothy Allen

of the natural world, its beauty and simplicity, and mans place within it. , 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.

aid to transform the lives of Africans is it time for even more radical action? describes how, despite the popular view that Iceland is the land of ice and re, 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. takes us on a breathtaking journey of discovery based on his extraordinary lming 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.

Matt Dickinson - Wild Images

Hilary Bradt

Prof Roger Crofts

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

Tessa Dunlop - Romania

Prof John Briggs

OPEN ONE TO EVERY FREE FOR s BER RSGS MEM D COME AN JOIN Us!

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 smallscale agriculture is it time for radical action? And what about the failure of

Matt Dickinson

Tim Emmett - Global Freezing!

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.

Timothy Allen - Human Planet

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.

Tim Emmett has been a

Julian Monroe Fisher - Journey to Katanga

Richard Jeynes - The Legion Project

RSGS: helping to make the connections between people, places & the planet

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.

Julian Monroe Fisher

Aberdeen MacRobert Building, University of Aberdeen, Kings College, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA - talk marked * is in Fraser Noble Building, University of Aberdeen, Kings College, Aberdeen, AB243UE
1 Oct 12 5 Nov 12 3 Dec 12 * 7 Jan 13 4 Feb 13 4 Mar 13 Mike Parker Matt Dickinson Martin Parry & Martin Price John Pilkington Bruce Gittings Roz Savage On the Map: Cartography and National Identity Wild Images What Does Climate Change Mean for Britain? Georgia to Afghanistan The Geography of Secret Places The Human Condition: An Ocean Rowers Perspective

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 ag expeditions).

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 * 24 Oct 12 28 Nov 12 30 Jan 13 27 Feb 13 27 Mar 13 Jim McNeill Richard Jeynes Jasper Winn Hilary Bradt Mikael Strandberg Julian Monroe Fisher Exploring the Polar Regions The Legion Project: Exploring Moroccos Forts Paddle: A Long Way Around Ireland West Ireland on Horseback Expedition Yemen on Camel Journey to Katanga: An Expedition into the Past

links remarkable tales of wartime history with eldwork in modern landscapes, maps and high resolution aerial imagery, to take us to some lesser known features of places we might think we know. , 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.

Bruce Gittings

Richard Jeynes

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 23 Oct 12 27 Nov 12 * 29 Jan 13 26 Feb 13 26 Mar13 Jim McNeill Richard Jeynes Jasper Winn Hilary Bradt Mikael Strandberg Julian Monroe Fisher Exploring the Polar Regions The Legion Project: Exploring Moroccos Forts Paddle: A Long Way Around Ireland West Ireland on Horseback Expedition Yemen on Camel Journey to Katanga: An Expedition into the Past

Dumfries Easterbrook Hall, The Crichton, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4TA
24 22 26 28 25 25 2 6 4 8 5 5 Sep 12 Oct 12 Nov 12 Jan 13 Feb 13 Mar 13 Jim McNeill Richard Jeynes Jasper Winn Hilary Bradt Mikael Strandberg Julian Monroe Fisher Mike Parker Matt Dickinson Andy Torbet John Pilkington Sara Wheeler Roz Savage Exploring the Polar Regions The Legion Project: Exploring Moroccos Forts Paddle: A Long Way Around Ireland West Ireland on Horseback Expedition Yemen on Camel Journey to Katanga: An Expedition into the Past On the Map: Cartography and National Identity Wild Images Operation Iceberg: Arctic Science, Adventure & Film-making Georgia to Afghanistan Where Penguins Fear to Tread: Tales from the Polar Regions The Human Condition: An Ocean Rowers Perspective
Kapka Kassabova - A Century of Tango

Dundee Tower Extension, University of Dundee, Perth Road, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Oct 12 Nov 12 Dec 12 Jan 13 Feb 13 Mar 13

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 worlds most passionate dance, described as a sad thought that can be danced, and shows why it is recognised as world cultural heritage. 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 y, embrace disaster, be epic in our travel pursuits, and immerse ourselves in the life-changing experience of true journeying. 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 rst ascents in Greenland, trekked unsupported across South Georgia, circumnavigated the UK on a jet-ski, and piloted the worlds rst road-legal biofuelled ying car 10,000km from London to Timbuktu.

Kapka Kassabova

Erskine Church of Scotland Centre, Robertson Road, Dunfermline, KY12 0BF

Dunfermline Carnegie Hall, East Port, Dunfermline, KY12 7JA - talk marked * is in St Andrews
Mike Parker Matt Dickinson Roger Crofts John Pilkington Sara Wheeler Roz Savage On the Map: Cartography and National Identity Wild Images Iceland: A Land of Water Battles Georgia to Afghanistan Where Penguins Fear to Tread: Tales from the Polar Regions The Human Condition: An Ocean Rowers Perspective

Dan Kieran

3 Oct 12 7 Nov 12 * 5 Dec 12 9 Jan 13 6 Feb 13 6 Mar 13

Edinburgh afternoon Appleton Tower, 11 Crichton Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9LE - talk marked * is
* 19 Sep 12 17 Oct 12 21 Nov 12 23 Jan 13 20 Feb 13 20 Mar 13

in Teviot Lecture Theatre, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG

Neil Laughton

Kapka Kassabova Tim Emmett Jock Wishart Lewis Gordon Pugh Tessa Dunlop Jason Lewis

A Century of Tango: The Global Story of Argentine Tango Global Freezing! Climbing the Ice Wall Rowing the Arctic Swimming on Top of the World Romania: Learning to Love Europes Wild Child 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 8 Nov 12 * 6 Dec 12 10 Jan 13 7 Feb 13 7 Mar 12

Mike Parker Ian Mitchell John Beatty John Pilkington Sara Wheeler Roz Savage

On the Map: Cartography and National Identity Up the Rocky Mountain Spine Wild Vision Georgia to Afghanistan Where Penguins Fear to Tread: Tales from the Polar Regions The Human Condition: An Ocean Rowers Perspective

Jason Lewis, an adventurer,

author, and environmental activist specialising in human-powered endeavours, became the rst person to circumnavigate the Earth without using motors or sails by walking,

cycling and inline skating across ve continents, and kayaking, swimming, rowing and pedalling a boat across the rivers, seas and oceans. has over 25 years of experience in the Arctic, where he has guided many groups including BBC lm crews. His expeditions give him regular opportunities to monitor polar bear populations for the Norwegian Polar Institute, and to put together a yearly scientic program for scientists to monitor the effects of climate change.

Jim McNeill

John Beatty - Wild Vision

Glasgow afternoon Reneld St Stephens Church Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JP
4 Oct 12 8 Nov 12 6 Dec 12 10 Jan 13 7 Feb 13 7 Mar 13 Mike Parker Ian Mitchell John Beatty John Briggs Robert Rogerson Neil Laughton On the Map: Cartography and National Identity Up the Rocky Mountain Spine Wild Vision 21st Century Challenges for Africa Planning Legacy: Glasgow 2014 and its Impact on the City Adventures on Seven Continents

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, preColumbian civilizations, Mormons and mineworkers.

Glasgow evening Boyd Orr Building, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ
19 17 21 23 20 20 Sep 12 Oct 12 Nov 12 Jan 13 Feb 13 Mar 13 Kapka Kassabova Tim Emmett Jock Wishart Lewis Gordon Pugh Tessa Dunlop Jason Lewis A Century of Tango: The Global Story of Argentine Tango Global Freezing! Climbing the Ice Wall Rowing the Arctic Swimming on Top of the World Romania: Learning to Love Europes Wild Child Expedition 360: Around the World by Human Power

Prof Stuart Monro,

Scientic 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 Scientic Director of the Edinburgh Consortium for Rural Research.

Helensburgh Victoria Halls, Sinclair Street, Helensburgh, G84 8TU

27 25 29 31 28 28 Sep 12 Oct 12 Nov 12 Jan 13 Feb 13 Mar 13 Jim McNeill Richard Jeynes Jasper Winn Hilary Bradt Mikael Strandberg Julian Monroe Fisher Exploring the Polar Regions The Legion Project: Exploring Moroccos Forts Paddle: A Long Way Around Ireland West Ireland on Horseback Expedition Yemen on Camel Journey to Katanga: An Expedition into the Past

Inverness The Highland Council Chamber, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX
8 Oct 12 12 Nov 12 10 Dec 12 14 Jan 13 11 Feb 13 11 Mar 13 Robert Penn Andy Torbet John Beatty Timothy Allen Dan Kieran Roz Savage Its All About the Bike Operation Iceberg: Arctic Science, Adventure & Film-making Wild Vision Human Planet The Idle Traveller The Human Condition: An Ocean Rowers Perspective

Kirkcaldy School of Midwifery, University of Dundee Fife Campus, 5 Forth Ave, Kirkcaldy, KY2 5YS
17 15 19 21 18 18 Sep 12 Oct 12 Nov 12 Jan 13 Feb 13 Mar 13 Kapka Kassabova Tim Emmett Jock Wishart Stuart Monro Tessa Dunlop Jason Lewis A Century of Tango: The Global Story of Argentine Tango Global Freezing! Climbing the Ice Wall Rowing the Arctic Life on the Rocks Romania: Learning to Love Europes Wild Child Expedition 360: Around the World by Human Power

Mike Parker - On the Map

Mike Parker is the author

of Map Addict and presenter of BBC Radio 4s 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.

Perth Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ - talk marked * is in Battleby Conference Centre, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW
16 Oct 12 6 Nov 12 4 Dec 12 * 11 Dec 12 15 Jan 13 12 Feb 13 5 Mar 13 Tim Emmett Ian Mitchell Mike & Karen Small John Beatty Timothy Allen Dan Kieran Neil Laughton Global Freezing! Climbing the Ice Wall Up the Rocky Mountain Spine The Fife Diet Wild Vision Human Planet The Idle Traveller Adventures on Seven Continents

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.

Albert Halls, Albert Place, Dumbarton Road, Stirling, FK8 2QL * 10 Oct 12 Neil Ross Antarcticas Hidden World Operation Iceberg: Arctic Science, Adventure & Film-making 14 Nov 12 Andy Torbet 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 Rowers Perspective
* indicates a different venue

Stirling Logie Lecture Theatre, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA - talks marked * are in

open to everyone 8 for adults free for RSGS members

Dan Kieran - The Idle Traveller

rides a bicycle to get to work, sometimes for work, to keep t, 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.

Robert Penn

action on the top environmental challenges facing us today.

John Pilkington, a popular

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.

Mike& Karen Small

Lewis Gordon Pugh - Swimming on Top of the World

Neil Laughton - Adventures on Seven Continents

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 nishing in Kashgar, Chinas socalled Crossroads of Asia.

Mikael Strandberg

Jason Lewis - Expedition 360

, an environmental campaigner, maritime lawyer and endurance swimmer, was the rst 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. , Senior Lecturer in Urban and Social Geography at the University of Strathclyde, is Legacy Research Coordinator 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.

Lewis Gordon Pugh

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.

Roz Savage - The Human Condition

Andy Torbet is an extreme

Dr Robert Rogerson

adventurer, presenter and zoologist. He is a highly-qualied, experienced and respected cave, deep mixed gas and commercial diver, and freediver. He holds some of the highest qualications as a mountaineering and climbing instructor, caver and sea-kayaker.

Mikael Strandberg - Expedition Yemen on Camel

Ian Mitchell - Up the Rocky Mountain Spine

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.

Sara Wheeler

Dr Neil Ross tells the story

Robert Penn - Its All About the Bike

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.

excerpts of live music, his three-and-ahalf month solo sea kayak trip around Irelands thousand mile coastline. His knowledge of the countrys culture, history, wildlife, literature and myths, makes for a story that goes way beyond paddling endurance.

Jasper Winn - Paddle

Roz Savage holds four world

Jock Wishart is, to date, the

John Pilkington - Georgia to Afghanistan

records for ocean rowing, including as the rst 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

only man to achieve the endurance double of walking unsupported to a Pole and rowing across an ocean. In 2011, Jock and ve other oarsmen succeeded after a gruelling four-week voyage through ice-strewn Arctic waters in rowing a boat to the Magnetic North Pole.

Jock Wishart - Rowing the Arctic

Join the RSGS and get all these talks for free, plus quarterly editions of The Geographer!
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 enquiries@rsgs.org or phone 01738455050. For further information, please visit our website www.rsgs.org
RSGS : helpi ng
RSGS GEOGRAPH ER SPRING THREE 17.indd

The Ge ographe
Whats the

Spring 2012

National Par

The newsle tter of the

Point?

ks

Royal Scottis h Geogra phical Society

Thousands of over-civilize tired, nerve-shaken, d out that going people are beginning to nd to the moun home; that tains is going wildness is that moun a necessity; tain parks and and useful not only as founta reservations are irrigating ins of timbe rivers, but as fountains r and John Muir of life.

Bringing to Life Learning

In This Editi on... Expert Views & Opinions: The Developme nt of National Parks Off the Beate Cairngorm n Track: s to Grand Canyon Letter from Libya On the Map: Ice in Green Mapping land

Expert View: Wallace Broec on Temperatu ker re & Rainfall Reader Offer: Scott ish Hill Track s
plus other comments, news, books...

to make the conne ction

1

s betw een

peop le, place s & the plane t

16/03/2012 15:53

RSGS, Lord John Murray House, 15-19 North Port, Perth, PH1 5LU Charity registered in Scotland no SC015599

Printed by Montgomery Litho on FSC 130gsm silk using vegetable based inks

Jasper Winn recounts, with

Andy Torbet - Operation Iceberg