Talks on demand
Explore our diverse collection of event recordings, talks, and podcasts at your convenience to discover inspiration from a range of engaging speakers.
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Mapping the manuscript archives
Drawn to the objects that reveal the human hand charting interpretations of place, Loraine is fascinated by the liminal traces of geographical experience in the overlap of explorer, surveyor, cartographer and viewer. Join Loraine as she talks about her work and the inspiration she has drawn from the Collections of the Society.
On the backs of others: rethinking the history of British geographical exploration
Ed reveals the strange, violent and sexual practices of famous explorers of Africa and the Antarctic in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and their reliance on the bodily toil of others for their survival.
A history of polar exploration in 50 objects - Anne Strathie
Anne returns with her fourth polar book to talk about objects from a period of exploration which is the bedrock of our present-day knowledge and fascination with polar regions.
Hamilton Rice’s Amazon
This talk celebrates the centenary of Alexander Hamilton Rice’s final expedition to Amazonia (1924-25) which pioneered technological innovations such as the use of hydroplanes for reconnaissance, aerial photography and shortwave radio in the field. Part of the Explore festival.
Exploring the explorers’ maps
This talk will discuss explorers’ maps with an especial emphasis on the collaborative effort that goes into creating them, an effort that often included Indigenous peoples. It asks what stories we can and should tell with explorers’ maps? Part of the Explore festival.
Vindicating Cherry
Apsley Cherry-Garrard knew he could have done nothing more to save Scott’s polar party, but he could never quite shake off accusations levelled at him after the expedition. Blending personal memories and considered analysis, Hugh remembers his uncle’s later years and reflects on why his uncle’s life had such an unhappy ending.
The Hayes expedition to the Arctic 1860-61
Tom will discuss the expedition to the Arctic led by Isaac Hayes, which overwintered at Port Foulke on the north-west coast of Greenland. The earliest photographs of the high Arctic were taken during the expedition and the talk will include many of these as well as original drawings made by Hayes and other crew members.
The future coast: managed realignment
Climate change means the British coastline is eroding increasingly fast. This talk looks at the response to that change represented by managed realignment, the organised abandonment of the coast. Managed realignment shows us a way of responding to change when the geographical boundaries we thought were solid melt into air.
Picking polar people: exploring explorer recruitment through the RGS archives - Alice Oates
Alice explores the priorities and practice behind recruiting for Antarctic expeditions, and asking how we define a good candidate in the past and present of polar exploration.
Be inspired: Dr Edward Wilson: Antarctic explorer and Scott’s confidant and friend - Isobel Williams
A look at the life of ornithologist, natural historian, physician and artist Edward Wilson, who ultimately perished with Scott after reaching the South Pole in 1912.
Be inspired: Unbound beauty: Venezuela in the Wiley Digital Archive - Dr Sherezade García Rangel
Explore historical accounts of Venezuela and its people, and uncover what role might these they still play.
Be inspired: Isabella Bird: Britain’s fearless Victorian adventurer, and her magic lantern slides
Jacki recreates Isabella Bird's lecture on Western China using her original magic lantern slides, and discusses her solo world travels.