Communicating geography in policy environments Royal Geographical - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

Communicating geography in policy environments

The learned society and professional body for geography & geographers.
 Founded in 1830, we are a world centre for geography: supporting research, education, expeditions and fieldwork, and promoting public engagement and informed enjoyment of our world.

Communicating geography in 
 policy environments (2)

Geography in the ʻpolicy environmentʼ

• A. What the Society does ʻfor geographyʼ
• As a subject: in schools and HE (funding, status and profile)
• In society: promoting and exchange of geographical knowledge
• Contact network
• B. The importance and role of ʻgeographersʼ
• Academic research in policy
• ʻTrainedʼ geographers within policy making

Communicating geography in 
 policy environments (3)

Policy work: Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)


Strategic Objective: “To promote the recognition and understanding of the relevance of geography and geographical information to policy, placing geography firmly in the debates about the future of places, environments and communities”

• Monitoring: relevant policy developments – identifying risks and opportunities
• Lobbying: for geography in education and research (including consultation responses)
• Advocacy: briefings - how/why knowledge & expertise contributes to policy & economy
• Dialogue: between government, researchers, NGOs and business on policy matters to which

geography contributes (including roundtable discussions, and seminars)

• Engaging: media, government and business with new policy-relevant research (using expertise)

Communicating geography in 
 policy environments (4)

What works?

• Lobbying for geography
• Dialogue: Recognition of part-STEM within HEFCE (and £2m awarded)
• Promoting geographical knowledge
• Policy documents: ʻMigrationʼ and ʻDrinkingʼ Controversies
• Media: Annual conference – UK Manufacturing; Regeneration
• Guidance: “Communicating beyond the academy...”
• Importance and role of ʻgeographersʼ: Making case with the coalition
• Working in government: Secondees and ʻtrainedʼ geographers
• Direct policy influence: ʻMaking the case for geographyʼ (examples…)

Communicating geography in 
 policy environments (5)

For further information about our work

www.rgs.org/policy

Dr Steven Toole Policy and Public Affairs Manager Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
 20 May 2010 s.toole@rgs.org