Maria Christodoulou – Key Stage 5 Highly Commended in 2013
“Winning Highly Commended in the Young Geographer of the Year competition back in 2013 was such a huge achievement, and I was really honoured. I entered at a time when I had begun to really start exploring my passion for geography outside of the classroom – I had just applied to study geography at university – so succeeding in the competition was a great way to gain first-hand experience of what geography at a higher level could be like.
I am now a Policy Adviser in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. My specific work area is EU Exit, and I have been part of the central team creating new policy for the UK’s chemicals industry in a post-Brexit world. Geography has been fundamental in influencing my academic and professional journey to where I am today. It is now not only just a passion of mine, but ingrained in my day-to-day life. I always loved geography for the simple reason that it represents the world around us; making it an impactful, relevant and ever-changing subject. The ability to learn about a theory and see its practice in the relationship between humans and the environment is super exciting and participating in the Young Geographer of the Year competition is a fantastic way to start exploring this future!”
Ian Cheung – Key Stage 5 Winner in 2013
“I was fortunate to win the under-18 category in the 2013 competition. This worked out at the right time when I was applying to Cambridge to read geography and was actually a focal point during my interview! Thankfully the interviewers were really interested in the work I did for the competition, which was based on geo-spatial differences in obesity prevalence in the UK. Shortly after winning Young Geographer of the Year, I went on to read Geography and Music at Trinity College, Cambridge.
The competition provided a great foundation for me at university – I really enjoyed the independent research aspects of my course, which built upon what I had to do for my Young Geographer of the Year essay. I also enjoyed the social, economic and political aspects of studying geography. This, combined with my long-standing interest in aviation, formed the foundations which allowed me to apply my skills and interests to my present position as a consultant in aviation for the European Commission in Brussels. On a day-to-day basis, I apply many of the transferable skills that studying arts and humanities have provided me, for example: an understanding of the European political system, economics, policy, regulation, stakeholder management, dealing with political sensitivities, report writing, quantitative and qualitative analysis.”
George Breckenridge – Key Stage 4 Winner in 2013
“Winning the Young Geographer of the Year competition in 2013 was a real platform for me to build on. The award is highly respected within the geographical community and I think having a common affinity with the Society really helped me in gaining experience and further opportunities. I’ve since worked on research at UCL, taught at the University of Hong Kong, and represented the UK twice at the International Geography Olympiad. Now, I’m a BA Geography student at the University of Cambridge. It’s a great undergraduate course and although my study of geography is more challenging than ever, I’m loving my time at Fitzwilliam College. Danny Dorling presented the award that year and our conversations on the day basically started a great friendship that has guided me since!”
Josephine Armstrong – Key Stage 5 Highly Commended in 2014
“I was thrilled to be awarded Highly Commended back in 2014 and visiting the Society was such an inspiring experience. It gave the love of geography I already had a real boost and turned my thoughts towards a possible career in the field. I’m now at the end of my second year at Newcastle University studying Geography with Politics and have discovered, alongside my initial interest in physical geography, a real passion for political geography and hope to pursue this fascinating area in the future.”
This year’s Young Geographer of the Year competition, run in partnership with Geographical magazine, gives students the opportunity to explore the potential geography holds by answering the question “Where can geography take you?”
The Rex Walford Award runs alongside the competition and is open to trainee, newly qualified or early career teachers, who must produce a scheme of work related to the same theme.
The deadline for both competitions is 5.00pm on Friday 18 October.
Find out more and how to enter.