2025 Awards
This year, the Society’s medals and awards recognise 24 outstanding people for their notable contributions to geography.
Read the full list of our 2025 medals and awards recipients.
Royal Medals
His Majesty the King has approved the award of the Royal Medals as follows:
Royal Medal - Founder’s Medal
Børge Ousland - for the encouragement and promotion of geographical science and discovery.
Royal Medal - Patron’s Medal
Professor Susan J. Smith - for the encouragement and promotion of geographical science and discovery.
Council awards
The Society’s Council has made the following awards:
Cherry Kearton Medal and Award
Ana-Maria Pavalache - for contributions to the public’s understanding of the wider world through photography.
Murchison Award
Professor Dariusz Wójcik - for substantial and highly influential published work in recent years.
Back Award
Professor Mark Green - for applied or scientific geographical studies which make an outstanding contribution to the development of national or international public policy.
Cuthbert Peek Award
Professor Chris Sandbrook - for advancing geographical knowledge of human impact on the environment through contemporary methods.
Gill Memorial Award
Dr Sihan Li - for exceptional early career research with a remarkable track record of achievement.
Gill Memorial Award
Dr Caitlin Robinson - for exceptional early career research with a remarkable track record of achievement.
Ordnance Survey Award
Chloë Searl - in recognition of excellence in geography education at the secondary level.
Ordnance Survey Award
Paul Logue - in recognition of excellence in geography education at the secondary level.
Taylor & Francis Award
Professor Katie Willis - for excellence in the promotion and practice of teaching and learning in higher education.
Ness Award
Phoebe Smith - for popularising geography and the wider understanding of our world and its environments.
Alfred Steers Dissertation Prize
Ben Kosky - for an outstanding undergraduate dissertation in geography: ‘Beyond the clouds: leveraging SAR and cloud computing for rapid flood mapping’.
Area Prize
Palden Tsering - for the best paper published in the journal by an early career researcher: ‘Hybrid rangeland governance: connecting policies with practices in pastoral China’.
Ron Cooke Award
Claudia Acker - for an outstanding independent investigation at A Level: ‘To what extent does the carbon content of trees differ between urban woodlands in Highgate Wood, London, and rural woodlands in Parnholt Wood, Hampshire?’.
Geographical Award
Harpreet (Preet) Chandi MBE - for expeditions that have had a significant impact in inspiring young people and the public.
Professional Geography Award
Dr Robert Muir-Wood - for recognition of excellence in the use of geography in professional practice.
Geographical Engagement Award
Oliver Uberti - for excellence in public engagement in relation to geographical issues.
Honorary Fellowship
- Professor Rachel Franklin
- Professor Tony Champion
- Professor Laura Pulido
- Professor Michael Woods
For service to geography.
- Workshop
Unlocking your archives with GIS
Join us to find out how location can help unlock your archives and build powerful interactive experiences for the public to explore.
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)Open to allThursday 12 June 2025 - Workshop
Exploring geographical careers in real estate - workshop
Knight Frank's Research Analytics team will be visiting the Society to present to geography students about career opportunities in the real estate industry.
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)Open to allFriday 13 June 2025 - Conference
Festival of geography
The Festival of geography brings together colleagues from the Royal Geographical Society and Geographical Association for a joint celebration of geographical knowledge and understanding.
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)Open to allMonday 16 June 2025