Shackleton’s Ship Beneath the Ice

On 28th March, RSGS is hosting a special event at Perth Concert Hall with the team from the Endurance22 Expedition, which discovered Shackleton’s lost ship Endurance after it had not been seen since it was crushed by the ice and sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915.

We’ll hear first-hand from Expedition Leader Dr John Shears, Subsea Manager Nico Vincent, and Documentary Director Natalie Hewit, as they recount their ground-breaking discovery and their journey 3,008 metres beneath the ice to video and photograph the legendary ship.

The Endurance22 Expedition brought together world-leading marine archaeologists, engineers, technicians, and sea-ice scientists on South African icebreaker SA Agulhas II, one of the largest and most modern polar research vessels in the world.

Join us for what will undoubtedly be an incredible story from dedicated experts who have been involved in this monumental discovery, and hear first-hand of the challenges of preparing for and filming an expedition of this significance.

28th March

Tickets are available from www.perththeatreandconcerthall.com, priced at £18.50* for general admission, £14.50* for RSGS members, and £8.00 for students/U18s (*inclusive of a £2.50 booking fee per ticket).

Over 500 people came to hear Doug Allan speak at Perth Concert Hall in December, as he reflected on successes and setbacks from 40 years of natural history filmmaking. Sharing some truly incredible stories and images from documentaries such as Planet Earth and Ocean Giants, he made the evening truly one to remember.

RSGS took the opportunity of this special event to present RSGS Honorary Fellowships to broadcaster Dougie Vipond and businessman David Connor, and the prestigious Scottish Geographical Medal to former RSGS President Professor Iain Stewart.

Dougie Vipond is best known as one of the founding members of Scottish pop rock band Deacon Blue, but it is for his work across many broadcast genres, presenting series such as BBC Scotland’s The Adventure Show and the rural affairs series Landward, that he was awarded a Fellowship.

David Connor was recognised for his work as Regional Director of Warm Zones, set up to trial a new not-for-profit area-based partnership approach to delivering energy efficiency measures and address fuel poverty.

Iain Stewart was awarded the RSGS Scottish Geographical Medal for his work as RSGS President from 2012 to 2022, and his many contributions during a critical period of change and growth for the Society.

We continue to make weekly additions to our blog (www.rsgs.org/blog), covering a range of interesting topics and news about our awards and projects. Recent posts include:

• The Challenger Expedition: peering into the abyss: in December 1872 the Royal Navy ship HMS Challenger set sail on an extraordinary four-year voyage around the world, in what has been called the Apollo mission of the Victorian era.

• The coldest dwelling on Earth and a disappearing turkey: RSGS Writer-in-Residence Jo Woolf shares four stories of explorers and the unusual places they spent Christmas.

• 2023: climate and the year ahead: Chief Executive Mike Robinson reflects on the year that is upon us, the potential for a fresh start and some fresh impetus to see action around some of the critical issues facing our society.

• The Nukak: the last Indigenous people to be contacted by mainstream Colombian society, and one of the last nomadic tribes in the country, has been fighting to return home for more than 30 years.

A bout of extreme weather hit the United States this winter, with certain parts of the country affected by a variety of strange events from atmospheric rivers to falling-iguana warnings.

California was affected by a series of deadly storm systems called atmospheric rivers, which are long and narrow regions in the atmosphere that transport water vapour out of the tropics, resulting in either rain or snow when these ‘rivers’ make landfall. California was also affected by bomb cyclones, a quickly strengthening system which happens when barometric pressure drops at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.

The Great Lakes region was hit by lake-effect snow, which happens when cold air moves across the Great Lakes, passing over the lakes’ unfrozen and relatively warm waters, and the warmth and moisture is transferred into the atmosphere. As that lower portion of a storm system becomes warmer, the less dense air rises and leads to snow on the US side of the Great Lakes. The winter also brought about unusually cold weather in Florida and resulted in Miami’s office of the National Weather Service issuing an unofficial warning for falling iguanas. This is due to a real phenomenon: when coldblooded iguanas get too cold, they fall into a catatonic state and literally drop from the trees.

We were sorry to learn of the death in December of one of our long-standing Edinburgh-based members and speakers. Fred and his wife Rita travelled on foot together through some remarkable places, including China, Tibet and The Silk Road, overcoming all sorts of difficulties en route. He later gave some very amusing talks to RSGS audiences about his remote travels. He delighted in so many small things and made his friends laugh again and again. He is remembered for his lively and bubbly personality, his very cheerful nature, and his friendliness towards all.

Dr Karen Darke MBE FRSGS, RSGS Explorer-in-Residence; Professor Mike Christie, Professor of Environmental and Ecological

Economics, Aberystwyth University

Leaving for Antarctica on 12th December 2022, Karen Darke attempted to become the first paralysed person to journey deep into the Antarctic continent. She was joined on the journey by Mike Christie, and by Inverness-based filmmaker Mike Webster. Karen, paralysed from the chest down, travelled across the Antarctic plateau using arm power alone, on a specially adapted hand-pedalled tricycle and by sit-ski. It was the first time any woman in her position had embarked on a journey in the icy continent, and whilst not the primary aim of the project, it was a World and Guinness Record.

On their month-long journey to their Pole of Possibility (www. karendarke.com/the-pole-of-possibility), the team aimed to create more ‘ICE’:

I = Inner gold: explore how we can work with mindset to uncover one’s potential or ‘inner gold’;

C = Connection: insights into developing our connectedness and interconnectedness to self and others, to enhance well-being and effectiveness;

E = Environment: research ways in which people can increase respect and value of our natural environment.

The team undertook research to help develop a deeper scientific understanding of multiple ways people benefit from and value the Antarctic continent. Professor Christie will assess the impact that melting and associated sea level rise will have on people’s well-being and livelihoods; assess the ‘non-use’ impacts that people may feel as a result of the loss of Antarctica’s ice and biodiversity; and provide recommendations as to what ordinary people could do to curb their impacts on polar regions, nature and the climate.

With filmmaker Mike Webster’s expertise, the team documented their journey and message on the importance of creating more ICE. The film, which will be made available to the wider public, will pay tribute to the benefits that the adventure mindset, the wilderness and a simpler existence can have on our mental health, showcasing the possibilities that can arise when we focus on a seemingly impossible goal, no matter who we are.

Scotland has been named one of the ‘hottest’ countries to visit in 2023. Wanderlust, the UK’s leading independent travel magazine, curated a list of the 30 hottest countries, cities and regions to visit in 2023. Scotland was the only country in the UK to make the list, with its culture being cited as one of the main reasons to visit.

Climate Solutions has gone from strength to strength, with more than 100,000 learners now subscribed to the course. WSP Global and Cora have recently joined the growing list of corporate partners, which includes Jacobs and Baillie Gifford.

During the previous quarter we delivered workshops to the University of Highlands and Islands, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the Scottish Parliament. This feedback from Mhari McLeman, Head of Strengthening Communities in Shetland, HIE, is a fantastic reflection of how well the training has been received: “The Climate Solutions Professional training course has ignited a real enthusiasm in me to learn more, both at a personal level and to help me do my job better. It’s making me question everything, and I’m looking at social and economic development in a whole new way. It was the best and most inspiring professional development course I’ve done during my whole career.”

It’s critical that everyone understands the seriousness of the climate emergency, and what we can do to make a difference. There are different versions of the course to suit every type of learner, from beginner to boardroom. Visit www.rsgs.org/climate-solutions

Mike Robinson, Chief Executive

We continue to be involved in various policy-setting areas of work. The cost-of-living increase continues to bite, and whilst this represents real challenges for a small charity like ours, we have been trying to help others, convening groups and matching needs with support. Working with Perth & Kinross Council and the Perth City Leadership Forum, we helped initiate a ‘gift card’ scheme for local residents in extreme poverty, and we remain part of the local taskforce.

In agriculture, the ARIOB (the ministerial group on future agricultural subsidies) continues, albeit at a slower pace than anyone envisaged, held back by civil service processes and parliamentary timetables. It is starting to get urgent, and there is a strong desire for more clarity on the changes that are being considered. This is a real opportunity to enhance the value of agricultural holdings not just for food production but also for soil management, carbon sequestration and biodiversity, but only if it instigates meaningful change, and this is still to be confirmed. I spoke and was on a panel at this year’s Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society conference about these changes.

Other talks include a 2050 Climate Group event, describing how to make things happen in the policy arena and how people can get more involved, at a Universities Scotland event, on the potential impacts of climate change on the world stage, and to the Perthshire Society of Natural Science, on Perth’s ambition to become a biodiversity capital for Scotland.

NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars on 18th February 2021, near the northwest rim of Jezero crater, on the inner northwest slopes of Isidis Planitia. On board was the most complete environmental station yet sent to another planet: the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA).

MEDA makes weather measurements, including wind speed and direction, temperature and humidity, and it measures the amount and size of dust particles in the Martian atmosphere. This provides context for the investigations that other rover instruments and systems are conducting, and supports the planning of future missions.

An international team of scientists led by Jose A Rodriguez Manfredi of Spain’s Astrobiology Centre has analysed results for the first 250 sols (solar days) of the mission, northern hemisphere spring to early summer, revealing a spatially and temporally variable meteorology, and unveiling the diversity of processes driving change on today’s Martian surface at Jezero crater.

See www.nature.com/articles/s41561-022-01084-0 for the article published in Nature Geoscience, and mars.nasa.gov/ mars2020/weather for general recent weather reports from Mars.

Scottish Association for Marine Science researchers who are studying possible environmental impacts of reduced Arctic sea ice have discovered that there may be hope for creatures in the darkest depths of the ocean. Parts of the Arctic could be ice-free in coming decades, which could spell disaster for the Arctic ecosystem as the food web is partly fuelled by the formation of sea ice algae on the underside of the ice sheet.

In spring, as the ice naturally begins to melt, these algae sink through the water column, sparking a feeding flurry for a host of organisms, not least creatures on the seabed such as starfish, sea cucumbers and shrimp. These, in turn, are eaten by a range of fish, including those important to the fishing industry and which are the main source of food for larger predators such as beluga whales and seals.

New findings, however, suggest that while the more energyrich sea ice algae are an important food item when they are available, the availability of open water algae may be enough to provide the energy to support seabed creatures, indicating that whilst sea ice algae are important, we must not overlook the part that phytoplankton play in fuelling the Arctic ecosystem.

In December, we were very pleased to present RSGS Honorary Fellowship to dedicated volunteer Margaret Paterson, for her long-term, consistent, positive contributions and dedication to the RSGS head office team. Having begun as a Fair Maid’s House volunteer 12 years ago, Margaret soon started helping in the office, where she has supported staff by maintaining and updating electronic files and folders, solving problems, and offering technical and administrative help whenever she can. She is a valued member of the RSGS team who has brought great fun and humour to her role.

A report by Reform Scotland has criticised the Scottish Government for the lack of clarity around what is needed for the country to reach its net zero targets. After praising the Government for the huge progress that Scotland has made with efforts to move away from fossil fuels, the report went on to highlight that domestic heat and road traffic have been increasing in recent years and these trends must be reversed. For this to happen, there must be leadership from the Scottish Government towards providing education and awareness programmes, to increase awareness about what is needed to tackle climate change, and the urgency of the crisis.

In November, we were pleased to present RSGS Honorary Fellowship to Alan Kinder. Alan has been Chief Executive of the Geographical Association (GA) for the last eight years, and has been instrumental in the development of numerous geographical resources which are highly valued by teachers. During his time at the GA, Alan has worked tirelessly and with great success to keep the subject of Geography alive and relevant.

Jack Evitt was born in Glasgow and graduated in medicine at Glasgow University, whereupon he joined a practice in Wigton in 1958 and then moved to Stirling in 1960, joining a larger practice where he stayed until his retirement. In his younger days, Jack travelled extensively to places such as Iran, Bhutan, Peru, Canada, and South Africa, where he travelled on the Blue Train between Cape Town and Pretoria, and three times to India, a country he was very fond of.

Jack was an ardent member of RSGS, and was one of our very early members in Stirling. He was responsible for the recruitment of new members on many occasions, and eventually became chairman over a four-year period. He was a very keen photographer, and gave many talks at the Local Group’s monthly meetings and Wednesday afternoon meetings of the Travellers Club at the Smith Institute in Stirling.

Jack shall always be remembered as a very popular member over a sustained period, and for his generosity to RSGS. He shall be sadly missed by all.

The 2022–23 Inspiring People programme of 90 face-toface public talks across mainland Scotland allowed RSGS audiences to hear from some brilliant speakers. Here are just some highlights: TV presenter and author Cameron McNeish, reflecting on four decades of chronicling Scotland’s majestic landscapes and outdoor communities; photographer Colin Prior, on visiting the remote and magnificent Karakoram mountains, and on his sources of inspiration and influence in his work in over 50 countries; filmmaker Libby Penman, on her years of filming epic wildlife in Scotland; kayaker Sal Montgomery, sharing her latest stories and adventures from road-tripping around America and British Columbia with her kayak; and a host of others befitting the best national talks programme in Scotland.

We now look forward to planning our 2023–24 programme. If you have suggestions or recommendations about possible speakers for next season, please contact us at enquiries@rsgs.org

We were delighted to award RSGS Honorary Fellowships to Nigel Miller, Pete Ritchie, and Andrew and Seonag Barbour, for their outstanding work towards promoting sustainable farming in Scotland, as panellists of the Farming for 1.5°C Inquiry, and for their individual efforts towards rebuilding our declining biodiversity. The awards were presented at RSGS headquarters by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon MSP.

The Farming for 1.5°C Inquiry brought together farmers, academics and NGO representatives to publish a consensus pathway for making Scottish farming climate compatible. In a highly praised report produced last year, Farming 1.5: From Here to 2045, the Inquiry was able to set out a credible way forward, by convening different perspectives and aspirations from farmers, scientists and policy experts.

Included among the RSGS collections are thousands of fascinating maps. The expert volunteers on our Collections Team are keen to share stories and details of them more widely, and so we are delighted to have launched a ‘Memorable Maps’ series of monthly blogs, available at www.rsgs.org/blogs/view-point. The first two blogs featured are:

• Running Survey of Christmas Island (1942), a map of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean;

• New Economic Map of Scotland (1943), illustrating the main economic regions of Scotland in a single black and white map.

The 2023 James Croll Medal, the highest award of the Quaternary Research Association, has been awarded to Colin Ballantyne, Emeritus Professor of Physical Geography in the School of Geography and Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews. The medal is named in honour of James Croll, the brilliant 19th-century Scottish polymath who developed the astronomical theory of climate change, which explains the alternation of glacial and interglacial periods in terms of variations in the Earth’s orbit. The medal is awarded annually in recognition of a lifetime contribution of original research in the field of Quaternary science. Colin will be familiar to many RSGS members through his contribution to the RSGS Inspiring People talks, his numerous contributions to the Scottish Geographical Journal, and as author of a bestselling book, Scotland’s Mountain Landscapes: a Geomorphological Perspective

Professor Ed Hawkins MBE FRSGS of the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading has updated his innovative global temperature graphic with a new stripe for 2022.

He said, “The data from 2022 is stark, however you look at it. Whether you view the figures in their raw form, or look at the data as another red line added to the climate stripes, the message is clear. Excess heat is building up across the planet at a rate unprecedented in the history of humanity. The latest coloured stripe added to the global warming stripes image is the second-darkest red, but is very close to being in the darkest red category. This is remarkable, given that an ongoing La Niña in the Pacific has helped to hold temperatures down. When we see a return of a neutral or warming phase of El Niño, the darkest red stripes will return. This should be a cause for alarm, but not alarmism. If you think how hot 2022 was, and then realise that those 12 months will likely be one of the coolest years of the rest of our lives, I think we will regret not having acted sooner on these warnings.”

See the Show Your Stripes website (showyourstripes.info) for more information, including regionalised stripes.

Polar explorer and RSGS Vice-President Sir David HemplemanAdams has been awarded the Polar Medal second clasp in recognition of his prolonged service in the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of Polar regions. He becomes one of only five people this century to receive a second clasp to his Polar Medal, for work in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. His first Polar Medal was awarded in 2012 by the late Queen Elizabeth II, making him the only person to have been awarded Polar Medals for the Arctic and Antarctic by both the late Queen and the King.

We are delighted to say that four young people were awarded RSGS University Medals in 2022. These Medals are awarded to the outstanding graduating honours geography student in each of the Scottish universities as recommended by heads of department. The winners were:

• Dundee: Sarah Carlyle, BSc Geography, and now pursuing a Masters in Spatial Planning and Sustainable Urban Design;

• Heriot-Watt: Anastasia Cooper, BSc Geography, from the first cohort of students on this new degree programme, and with exceptional results throughout her courses and for her dissertation on sustainable fashion;

• St Andrews: Charlotte Evans, MA Geography with Social Anthropology, now on a year of international travel and research as an R&A Scholar;

• Stirling: Ailsa Oxnard, BSc Environmental Geography, having shown unusually high levels of commitment and dedication to the degree, and been integral in keeping the University’s Geography Society going over three years.

Many congratulations to them all, and to David Verdugo-Raab who was awarded the 2021 University Medal from the University of Dundee, and is now pursuing a Masters in Global Change Geography.

3rd August

We are delighted to say that Livingstone Medallist Rory Stewart OBE FRSGS will give a special talk for RSGS on Thursday 3rd August in Perth. Rory, most recently acclaimed for his successful The Rest Is Politics podcast, will be reflecting on his experiences of walking across Afghanistan, as detailed in his book The Places In Between. We will announce details in the summer.

In January, we were pleased to present Honorary Fellowships to Dr Mary-Ann Smyth, Gillian Khosla and Vimal Khosla, for their work as co-founders, directors and creative leaders of the Crichton Carbon Centre, creating a hub of expertise in climate change awareness, which gradually developed into a centre of expertise in peatland restoration, with an international reputation.