Climate Change Storymat

Building on the format of the successful interactive Storymats developed by RSPB, the new RSGS Climate Change Storymat has been developed to create awareness of the Earth including habitats, biodiversity, climate and weather. It has also been designed to help young children think about personal actions we can take to reduce the effects of climate change on the environment. We introduced the Storymat at a recent twilight session attended by 10 primary teachers from Perth & Kinross schools, and piloting is now underway with two P3 classes at St Johns primary school in Perth. After piloting, the resource will be available for loan to Perth & Kinross schools.

Celebrating Croll: Who was James Croll?

James Croll is one of those remarkable Victorian characters who made a fundamental contribution to our current understanding of science, but who is now all but forgotten except in specialist circles.

James Croll

Coming from a modest rural background near Perth, Croll was largely self-taught through reading, his enthusiasm for learning sparked by The Penny Magazine of The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.

For much of his life he struggled with illness, and he held a succession of different jobs, from millwright to shopkeeper to insurance salesman. It was in 1859, when he became a janitor at the Anderson College in Glasgow and gained access to its extensive library, that he became actively involved in pushing the boundaries of glaciology.

His first paper on glacial epochs was published in 1864, and in 1875 he published the landmark Climate and Time, the distillation of his theory of ice ages and Earth’s orbit. In all, he wrote dozens of scientific papers, amongst other things explaining global oceanic circulation, calculating the age of the sun, developing a theory of evolution, and remarkably presciently predicting the thickness of the unexplored Antarctic Ice Sheet.

“I remember well that, before I could make headway in physical astronomy,… I had to go back and study the laws of motion and fundamental principles of mechanics. In like manner I studied pneumatics, hydrostatics, light, heat, electricity and magnetism. I obtained assistance from no-one. In fact there were none of my acquaintances who knew anything whatever about these subjects.” - James Croll

The Celebrating Croll appeal launched last week. The RSGS is aiming to rejuvenate the outdoor space and the interpretation panels in our visitor and education centre in the Fair Maid's House., to give visitors more to see, maximise the space available to visiting groups, and to celebrate the legacy of James Croll.

Read more about the campaign, and how you can help.

Geography News Round-Up

A round-up of interesting geography news from around the world

Ice-loss moves the Earth 250 miles down

At the surface, Antarctica is a motionless and frozen landscape. Yet hundreds of miles down the Earth is moving at a rapid rate, new research has shown.

The study, led by Newcastle University, UK, and published this week in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, explains for the first time why the upward motion of the Earth's crust in the Northern Antarctic Peninsula is currently taking place so quickly.

Previous studies have shown the earth is 'rebounding' due to the overlying ice sheet shrinking in response to climate change. This movement of the land was understood to be due to an instantaneous, elastic response followed by a very slow uplift over thousands of years.

But GPS data collected by the international research team, involving experts from Newcastle University, UK; Durham University; DTU, Denmark; University of Tasmania, Australia; Hamilton College, New York; the University of Colorado and the University of Toulouse, France, has revealed that the land in this region is actually rising at a phenomenal rate of 15mm a year – much greater than can be accounted for by the present-day elastic response alone. 

More on this story

Perth book launch reconnects stories with the people who inspired them

Villagers from Perthshire villages Guildtown and Wolfhill gathered at the RSGS Headquarters this week, along with writers and environmentalists for the local launch of a new short story book - "Beacons - Stories for our not so distant future".

Mike Robinson, who managed the climate challenge funded project in the two villages said : "This project has taken nearly seven years to get to this point, and we are grateful to the people of Wolfhill and Guildtown for their support, and to the stellar list of authors who have all contributed stories."

Authors were invited to spend a weekend in discussion with locals, leading environmentalists and a range of experts.   The authors gave poetry and prose readings for villagers, ran sessions for local children in how to draw cartoons, and took part in a ceilidh and a number of other social events.    This initiative has resulted in the publication of this book of short stories.   Expenses and costs were funded by the Climate Challenge Fund and the Sibthorp Trust.

Gregory Norminton, the book's editor who put a huge effort into recruiting authors and publishing the book said, “This book is intended to communicate to the heart and imagination, in a way that much scientific literature struggles to do.    Some people seem to fear change more than they fear climate change.   We hope this book of short stories will challenge, engage, amuse and inspire people and that it might encourage people to think about the sorts of changes they can make to help.”

RSGS's Mike Robinson gives climate evidence

Last week our Chief Executive Mike Robinson, was invited to give evidence to the Rural Affairs and Climate Change Committee (RACCE) of the Scottish Parliament, in response to the Scottish Government publishing the draft Report on Policies and Proposals (RPP2).   

The paper is intended to outline Scotland's path towards a low carbon future, and details by sector some of the Government's firm intentions (policies) and outline plans (proposals) to help achieve the Scottish Climate Act targets. 

Image © Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body – 2012. Licensed under the Open Scottish Parliament Licence v1.0.

Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting our Emissions Reduction Targets 2013-2027 - The Draft Second Report on Proposals and Policies can be read here.

Find out more about the Royal Scottish Geographical Society

Swimming on Top of the World: Lewis Gordon Pugh shares his endurance swimming stories.

Lewis Gordon Pugh is an environmental campaigner, a maritime lawyer and an endurance swimmer. He always wanted to be a pioneer swimmer and was the first person to complete a long distance swim in every ocean of the world. Much of his inspiration has come from explorers such as Roald Amundsen, Robert Scott and Edmund Hillary.  Through his swims he has gained a unique perspective on climate change.  By swimming in vulnerable ecosystems he wants to draw attention to their plight.  He has given up everything to dedicate his life to this purpose.

Now, he’ll join audiences in Edinburgh and Glasgow on January 23rd to discuss undertaking the first long distance swim across the North Pole in 2007, how did he prepare himself? And why did he carry on, when everything went so badly wrong? 

Lewis Gordon Pugh braved icy waters to highlight climate change.

This talk is part of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Inspiring People talks programme.

He undertook this death defying swim to highlight the melting of the Arctic sea ice, he also swam across a glacial lake under the summit of Mount Everest in 2010 to draw attention to the melting glaciers in the Himalayas, and the impact the reduced water supply will have on world peace.

In 2010 he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum for his "potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world through inspiring leadership."

Discussing his swims Lewis has said “I am often asked why I do it. At a simplistic level, I am passionate about swimming and I enjoy pushing boundaries. But there's a lot more to it than that. Through my swims I have had a unique perspective on climate change. I have witnessed retreating glaciers, decreasing sea ice, coral bleaching, severe droughts, and the migration of animals to colder climates. It's as a result of these experiences that I am determined to draw attention to the fragility of our environment and to encourage everyone to take action.”

Lewis Gordon Pugh prepares to dive into Arctic waters.

Not always in his swimming trunks, Lewis studied law at the University of Cape Town and the University of Cambridge, and then went on to work as a maritime lawyer in London. He now spends my time public speaking and campaigning to world leaders to protect the environment.

Lewis’s talk will take place on Wednesday 23^rd January:

Edinburgh: Appleton Tower, 11 Crichton Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9LE at 2:15pm

Glasgow: Boyd Orr Building, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ at 7:30pm. 

£8 for adults, (redeemable if buying membership) and free students, under 18s and for RSGS members. Tickets are available on the day from the venue. For more information about any of our talks this season please visit www.rsgs.org/events/
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