As an organisation with a membership of 16,000 that spans the breadth of the geographical community, the Society is an effective and influential advocate. We:
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advocate for the benefits of geography in primary and secondary education to government, other policy-makers and to head-teachers
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advise government on policy relating to geography in research and higher education, and act as an advocate for the professional geographical workforce
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advise government and other policy-makers on high-quality, safe fieldwork and outdoor education for all, using the expertise of our fieldwork researchers and members.
Advocacy for geography in professional practice
Find out more about our Chartered Geographer accreditation for those with competence, experience and professionalism in the use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills in the workplace.
Recent policy developments
Fieldwork and Outdoor Learning
We are an internationally renowned, independent expert voice on the value and importance of fieldwork - from visits to local schools to advanced, long-term international research projects. Our policy work is also informed by the first-hand experience of advising and training teachers, parents, students and youth leaders to participate in a wide range of outdoor education and fieldwork activities.
Data Skills
Geography has a particular role as a physical and a social science in supporting data skills. Our Data Skills in Geography programme, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, is an integrated programme of work across higher education and schools that supports the understanding of data skills, confidence in their use, and knowledge of their value to further study and employment by both teachers and students.
This work draws on a long history of support for quantitative skills at the Society, including joining with other learned societies and organisations to sign a joint statement in 2012.
Research Excellence Framework
The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise assessed the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. One outcome of this is a searchable online database of REF Impact Case Studies. You can search for case studies by institution, Unit of Assessment, subject area or location of the impact (UK or global).
Over 200 case studies were submitted under 'Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology', including impacts upon policy, society and environmental management.
Making the case
We have produced a range of case studies that make the case for the importance and relevance of geography. They cover topics including improving river quality, understanding migration, flood management, improving local health and communities, and making our roads safer.
Promoting opportunities for young people
Geographical research that has: helped the UK Government to make a policy decision to expand training of young people through cadet forces.
Led by: Professor Graham Moon, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Southampton and Dr Liz Twigg, Reader in Human Geography, University of Portsmouth.
Types of impact: providing evidence used by government to promote new policies; supporting social benefits from improving activities and support for young people.
View case study (PDF)
Influencing government policy to protect access to allotments
Geographical research that has: changed government policy and has increased popular understanding of the important role of common land and green space in local communities.
Led by: David Crouch FRGS, Professor of Cultural Geography, University of Derby, and Associate, University of Nottingham.
Types of impact: Direct and on-going influence on government policy. Raising awareness of wider public benefits to health and well-being.
View case study (PDF)
Improving the health and quality of rivers and water bodies
Geographical research that has: helped the Environment Agency implement the EU Water Framework Directive by assessing how river plants effect a stream’s health.
Led by: Dr Geraldene Wharton, School of Geography, Queen Mary, University of London.
Types of impact: research and evidence leading to more efficient implementation of policy, and reducing public expenditure; social and health benefits from improving the ecological health of natural environments.
View case study (PDF)
Helping policy makers to better plan for an ageing population
Geographical research that has: collaborated with business and the public sector to help stimulate growth in the economy.
Led by: a team of N8 University partners, including Professor Ray Hudson, Department of Geography, University of Durham and Professor Phil Rees and his team at the School of Geography, University of Leeds.
Types of impact: research and evidence leading to more efficient implementation of policy; social benefits from improving public services in response to demographic change; achieving economic potential from collaboration with business and the public sector.
View case study (PDF)
Working with local communities, and raising public awareness, on health issues
Geographical research that has: provided local communities with a greater understanding of the links between where they live and public health, and raised the profile of the need for investment in former coalfield areas, especially in the North East.
Led by: Professor Sarah Curtis, Durham University.
Types of impact: Public engagement: raised awareness and informing public opinion; stimulating debate and discussion; stimulating involvement and participation; building capacity in organisations who work with the public; enhancing the quality of infrastructure to benefit the public.
View case study (PDF)
Communicating historical perspectives on human-climate relations to public audiences
Geographical research that has: demonstrated to a large public audience a fresh perspective on the debate relating to climate change.
Led by: Professor David Livingstone, Queens University Belfast.
Types of impact: Public engagement: informing public opinion and discourse; cultural enrichment; stimulating debate and discussion; generating inspiration and curiosity.
View case study (PDF)
Developing engaging new ways of presenting geographical data
Geographical research that has: developed novel cartographic techniques to analyse and popularise quantitative geographical information about the world.
Led by: Professor Danny Dorling, University of Sheffield.
Types of impact: Public engagement: raised awareness and informing public opinion and discourse; stimulating debate and discussion; generating inspiration and curiosity; building capacity in organisations who work with the public.
View case study (PDF)
Research which opens up fresh perspectives on historical accounts to the public
Geographical research that has: brought fresh perspectives on historical accounts of exploration to public audiences.
Led by: Professor Felix Driver, Royal Holloway, University of London.
Types of impact: Public engagement: raised awareness and new knowledge; cultural enrichment; stimulating debate and building mutual understanding; stimulating involvement and participation.
View case study (PDF)
Helping to protect children's interests in the asylum process
Geographical research that has: led to policy changes to provide greater protection of the interests of children in the asylum process.
Led by: Professor Heaven Crawley, Swansea University.
Types of impact: underpins evidenceled policy formulation; enhances human rights protection; and improves the practice of asylum administration and its impact on children.
View case study (PDF)
Promoting links between universities and their localities
Geographical research that has: understood, developed and promoted the economic role of universities within their own localities.
Led by: Professor John Goddard and Professor John Tomaney, Newcastle University.
Types of impact: enhancing economic development in low performing localities and regions in Britain; furthering the roles that universities can play in local economic development.
View case study (PDF)
Improving urban environments by developing ways to revitalise degraded rivers
Geographical research that has: aided urban regeneration and improved local environmental quality through providing river managers and the Environment Agency with new techniques for the restoration of urban river.
Led by: Professors Angela Gurnell, Queen Mary, University of London and Geoff Petts, University of Westminster.
Types of impact: improved urban regeneration (economic benefits); enhanced local environments and quality of life; community engagement and participation.
View case study (PDF)
Better understanding of migration in the UK
Geographical research that has: developed more accurate methods of measuring the internal migration of ethnic minorities, to assist planners and policy makers to make informed decisions about promoting integration and addressing social tensions.
Led by: Professors John Stillwell and Phil Rees, University of Leeds.
Types of impact: helps understand ethnic composition change spatially across different parts of the UK; underpins evidence led policy formulation and enhances planning for social change, integration and potential instability.
View case study (PDF)
Helping the public and private sectors get the most from the census
Geographical research that has: developed a way to provide systematic data about local areas, thereby assisting central government, local authorities, businesses and communities to make more informed decisions and policies on matters relating to population numbers, distributions and characteristics.
Led by: Professor David Martin, Southampton.
Types of impact: helps underpin evidenceled policy formulation; supports efficient targeting of public funds; economic impact; potential to empower local communities.
View case study (PDF)
More cost-efficient approaches to flood management
Geographical research that has: provided research evidence to government and led to the development of more cost-efficient approaches to flood management, reducing the financial and human cost of future flood events.
Led by: Professors Colin Thorne, Nottingham University and Edmund Penning-Rowsell, Middlesex University.
Types of impact: research and evidence led policy formulation and better targeted public expenditure leading to economic impact and benefits; and improving safety and reducing risks to lives and local community infrastructure.
View case study (PDF)
Better targeted spending on deprived neighbourhoods
Geographical research that has: shaped the DCLGs Regeneration Framework, and is now being used widely by local authorities to target spending more efficiently on financial assistance for poorer areas.
Led by: Professor Brian Robson, University of Manchester.
Types of impact: economic impact; improving public services to, and quality of life in, deprived areas.
View case study (PDF)
Making Britain's roads safer and saving money for councils
Geographical research that has: developed new technologies which make our roads and transport safer, while also saving money for councils and tax payers.
Led by: Professor John Thornes, University of Birmingham.
Types of impact: blue skies research that led to economic impact through technology-led enterprise development and savings in public expenditure; public benefit through improving health and safety in transport.
View case study (PDF)