Craig Mathieson appointed as first Ambassador for Exploration

We are delighted to announce the appointment of the RSGS’s first Ambassador for Exploration (or more commonly, despite the contradiction - Explorer in Residence).      Scottish explorer Craig Mathieson has been awarded the title, and will work with the Society for the next four years, promoting our work and his, and inspiring school children all over the country.

For a Society with its roots in exploration and education, it is fantastic for us to have a representative whose work combines both.  Craig’s work is an inspirational example of how to use exploration as a route to enthusing young people about the outdoors and teaching them vital life skills.



Craig has been involved in polar expeditions, to both the Antarctic and the Arctic and in Greenland. His childhood dream was to ski to the South Pole, a dream that he realised in 2004. He decided then that he wanted to share this experience with the younger generation. In 2006 he trained a 16-year-old, who joined him on a journey to the Geographic North Pole. This trip of a lifetime proved life changing, and motivated Craig to replicate its success elsewhere.

Since then, Craig has established the Polar Academy charity, to take young adults from difficult backgrounds and motivate them through expeditions.  Participants will learn to work together in the outdoors as a team, learning the importance of planning and leadership. The Academy will emphasise that any goal is achievable, as long as you have the right attitude.

He’ll spread this message wide, first by talking to and inspiring school classes around the country, before taking a selection of young adults for training sessions in Scotland. A small number of these will then join him on an expedition to East Greenland.

Craig has given talks to thousands of school kids around the country, and will now be doing so as a representative of the Society. Despite the ‘in-Residence’ part of his title, he will not be confined to the Explorers’ Room, but will be out and about around Scotland and on expedition, encouraging understanding of exploration and the natural world.

Craig said, “To be awarded the title of the first RSGS Explorer-in-Residence is truly an honour and a privilege. As a young boy I would read of the achievements of Scott, Amundsen and Shackleton, hoping and dreaming that perhaps one day I could also experience the harsh beauty of the polar regions. Having now stood at both the North and South Poles, I feel it my duty to share the knowledge and experience gained over the years. Therefore, working with the RSGS, who have similar aspirations, allows for an ideal partnership. Over the coming months and years, I am looking forward to inspiring our younger generation and hopefully motivating them to achieve their own dreams one day.”



Mike Robinson said, “Craig’s enthusiasm is infectious. He is a great guy with a gentle exterior that hides a fierce determination and an iron will. His plans for the Polar Academy are visionary and ambitious, and the RSGS is delighted to back him in this venture and, I hope, to help him to achieve that vision. We wish him good luck and hope he can now ‘crack on’, as Craig would say.”

Sara Wheeler Steps Where Penguins Fear to Tread with Stories of the Antarctic.

Sara Wheeler, travel writer and biographer will share stories of the Polar Regions in talks in Dundee, Dunfermline and Edinburgh on February 5th to 7th

Sara will uncover the beautiful, brutal reality of the Polar regions, telling stories about her seven months in Antarctica and many visits to the Arctic, including anecdotes, science, and the difference between the two places.

Sara Wheeler in sunnier climes at Leptis Magna, Libya.

Sara spent seven months in Antarctica as the writer in residence of the US National Science Foundation. She wrote the book Terra Incognita: Travels in Antarctica based on her time there, including spending the night sleeping in the captain’s bunk in Scott’s Hut.

These talks are part of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Inspiring People talks programme. The Dundee talk is kindly sponsored by the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers.

  

Dundee: Tuesday 5^th February at 7.30pm.

Dundee University’s Tower Building, Perth Road, Dundee, DD1 4HN. 

Dunfermline: Wednesday 6th February at 7:30pm.

Carnegie Hall, East Port, Dunfermline, KY12 7JA

Edinburgh: Thursday 7th FEbruary at 7:30pm.

Appleton Tower, 11 Crichton Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9LE

Tickets are £8 for adults, (redeemable if buying membership) and free for 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/

Collections Corner - Tales from the Collections Team

Our collections are still emerging from endless cardboard cartons, large white elephant-like containers and from map chests, all previously hidden away in enforced off-site storage. This storage was imposed on us when we moved our Headquarters in 2008 from Glasgow to Perth and then during the time our new accommodation in the Fair Maid’s House was being made ready for us.

Each week some, if not all, of our enthusiastic 10-strong Collections Team gathers for the day and exciting things suddenly resurface.  Watch this space to see what emerges over the next weeks and months! 

ONE HUNDRED YEARS ON 

In November a 1925 map of Arctic Lands, published in America by the National Geographic Society emerged from the depths of our ‘Arctic’ map drawer.  One of our keen-eyed Team was examining this and spotted in the right-hand corner a tiny line of print. This revealed that on that particular spot the world’s largest passenger ship - the Titanic - on its maiden voyage, sank on 15 April 1912.

One hundred years and 7 months later, our RSGS Team stopped work to look.  Here, shown lying to the south of the Newfoundland coast – at the small scale of map used by the cartographer it looked very close to the coast, though in fact was some 600km off - was where so many lost their lives.

One tiny line on a map, yet a poignant reminder of a geographical location where something happened which shocked the world, and continues to do so.

 

A Section of the National Geographical Society's Arctic Map.

 

A close up of the marking  "Titanic Sank".

The Society has extensive book, journal, map, and photographic collections which are available to members. These collections are continually updated, and RSGS welcomes donations of relevant material.  Please send any enquiries about the collection to collections@rsgs.org and we'll get back to you as soon as possible (please note that the Collections Team is voluntary and meets once a week).

For more information about the Collections, the Enquiry Service and Access see http://www.rsgs.org/collections/access.html

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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