We work with Scottish universities to promote geographical study and research, and sit at the heart of a broad network of geographical experts. We also offer ‘knowledge exchange’ opportunities to help interpret academic geography for non-academic audiences, and encourage dissemination of knowledge through our peer-reviewed Scottish Geographical Journal. 

In this age of globalised markets and communications, and climate change, it is critical that geographical sciences are promoted and pursued, to encourage joined-up thinking and to give people the skills to make sense of this complex world.

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Geography in Scottish Universities

With arguably the greatest geological diversity of any country in the world, and a rich tradition of exploration and international collaboration, Scotland has played a strong and inspirational role in the development of geographical sciences. Geography was one of the founding subjects listed in the charter for Edinburgh University in 1583, but it was not taught as a degree subject until 1908, when RSGS Secretary George Chisholm was appointed as the first Lecturer in Geography at Edinburgh.

Where to Study in Scotland

Research Councils and Funding

We are invited to recommend academics to represent geography in the various research councils. We meet with the Scottish Funding Council and others looking at the strategic funding of geographical studies in Scottish universities.

RSGS University Medal

Since 1909, the RSGS has offered silver University Medals, which are now awarded to the outstanding graduating honours geography student in each of the Scottish universities as recommended by heads of department.

Recent recipients of the University Medal include (2023) Sarah Trebo, Aberdeen; Hannah MacDonald, Stirling; (2022) Sarah Carlyle, Dundee; Anastasia Cooper, Heriot-Watt; Charlotte Evans, St Andrews; Ailsa Oxnard, Stirling; (2021) David Verdugo-Raab, Dundee; Eva Bhowmick, Heriot-Watt; (2020) Caroline Kienast von Einem, Heriot-Watt; (2019) Lewis Bruce, Aberdeen; (2018) Pascale Crozier, Aberdeen; James Bishop, Dundee; Eilish Barnes, Edinburgh; (2017) Jessica Lee, Aberdeen; Lauren Urquhart, Dundee; Viola Heinrich, Edinburgh; Viktoria Noka, Glasgow; Stephen Bewsher, Stirling; (2016) Alasdair Pilmer, Aberdeen; Amy Walker, Dundee; Leonardo Marioni, Edinburgh; Jenna Kirk, Glasgow; Fergus MacFarlane, Stirling.

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Looking for an Expert?

We have prepared a comprehensive list of geography academics currently working in Scotland. This freely accessible resource organises these practitioners into ten key geographic themes and 24 disciplinary sub-themes. To download the Excel document, please click the link below.

Scotland's Experts

To navigate the document, key words can be searched using the 'Find' command (ctrl F), or filtered using the 'Sort' command. 

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Knowledge Exchange

Part of our role is to help interpret academic geography for non-academic audiences. We offer opportunities for researchers to communicate their work through public talks, published articles, school activities, public displays, and electronic media. We can do this on an ad hoc basis or as a formal outreach partner in a wider project. If you are a researcher interested in developing a ‘knowledge exchange’ programme with the RSGS, please contact us on [email protected] or 01738 455050.

We also ran a small grants scheme for several years. RSGS Knowledge Exchange Grants helped to promote geography by disseminating the results of geographical enquiry and research, particularly by early career researchers, for the benefit of the wider public. Aimed at early career researchers, the grants were in the range of £200 to £1,000.

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Scottish Geographical Journal

The Scottish Geographical Journal (SGJ) is the learned publication of the RSGS and is a continuation of the Scottish Geographical Magazine, first published in 1885. The journal was relaunched in its present format in 1999, its primary aim being to publish high-quality work on diverse geographical themes. The journal is international in outlook, but its Scottish origin and base continues to be extremely important. Indeed, the Editors seek contributions on, of or about Scotland, where Scotland – as a whole or in its particular regions, landscapes and locales – is the focus of inquiry. We also seek contributions from Scotland, meaning interventions from academic geographers (and others) based in Scotland but maybe working on places elsewhere. Overall we retain a sense of these contributions being gathered in Scotland or, more accurately, in the pages of our distinctive journal edited out of Scotland.

The SGJ is published by Routledge (Taylor and Francis), and is available online or in hard copy. All RSGS Members are entitled to receive the SGJ for free. Join us now to start receiving your copies, and for free access to digital copies online.