Farewell to Rita

A lovely article in the 'Geographical' magazine for this month, which explores the legacy of Rita Gardner, who is retiring as Director of the Royal Geographical Society.
I've worked with the RGS, writing educational materials and leading CPD at Exhibition Road, for around 10 years, and the GA worked closely with the RGS-IBG during the Action Plan for Geography (2006-11). Rita was also there when I was awarded my Ordnance Survey award back in 2008.

There's a few words in the article from David Lambert, alongside recent Presidents including Michael Palin, Judith Rees and Nicholas Crane.
I wish Rita a very happy retirement, but would guess she will continue to support the wider geography community, alongside travelling and photography. See some of Rita's photographs in the current exhibition at the RGS.
I look forward also to seeing how Joe Smith leads the next stage in the development of the RGS, and hope to continue to be involved in some way.
It was really positive to see that Joe was at the GA Conference reception on Thursday night, which I hope is a sign that the GA and RGS will (continue to) work more closely together.

A couple of excellent RGS videos...

Nicholas Crane gave a lecture last night related to his book on the history of the British Landscape. As a member and fellow, I can see the whole lecture, but there is a preview for everyone available below.

It's also getting close to the deadline of this year's 'Young Geographer of the Year' competition, and here's the Director Rita Gardner giving her thoughts on how the UK has changed... (the theme of this year's competition)

More good news for Geography

Following last week's Guardian editorial, and Jo Debens appearance on the there was another article on the importance of Geography today on the TES website, and presumably in print as well.

This time the author is Rita Gardner, the Director of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

Rita mentioned the Action Plan for Geography, which is what I also did in my post on the previous article.

The initial boost for geography came in 2006. This marked the first time the government substantially invested in geography at school, with Lord Adonis signing off a five-year, £3.8 million action plan. The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) led the advocacy for this, bringing representatives together from across the community – schools, universities, employers and business leaders. Breadth of community support, leadership by learned societies and professional bodies, a strong subject body in the form of the Geographical Association and speaking with one voice as a community have been powerful forces for the discipline ever since.

Meanwhile, geography teachers saw the action plan as a long-awaited vote of confidence in their discipline, as well as providing essential professional support.     

I'm proud to have been part of the APG team, and for the job that we did.

The article is well worth reading, as it sets out some of the changes that have taken place in the subject which, as Rita says is:

a rigorous, relevant and civilising subject that is, and should continue to be, at the heart of education in a world characterised by change and challenge.

Geography rather than STEM...

You may remember I posted something that Nicky Morgan wrote about the STEM subjects last week...

This is Rita Gardner's response, which you may be interested in reading. With thanks to Steve Brace. Published in the TES.

In promoting the role of science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) subjects, education secretary Nicky Morgan suggests that other subjects – the humanities, arts and, by implication, social sciences – will not open up a wide range of careers for young people (“Nicky Morgan tells pupils: study Stem subjects to keep your options open”,).

This assertion is not supported by evidence on graduate employability, nor by the Russell Group’s Informed Choices report on preferred “facilitating subjects”, which include geography. This last subject experiences some of the lowest levels of graduate unemployment, and geographers include leading figures such as home secretary Theresa May.

Science and maths have rightly experienced significant rises in uptake in recent years, but it is time for greater balance in representing the contribution of many other facilitating subjects – including geography – to education and employability.

Dr Rita Gardner
Director, Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers