LivingGeography Newsletter #8
Feb 20th-26th
Welcome to the eighth weekly newsletter providing a summary of key posts on the LivingGeography blog.
Each newsletter will usually include a number of sections:
a digest of posts from the LivingGeography blog (and other blogs)
any important geographical news
an update on any personal projects
details of books that I am reading, or cultural experiences
a couple of nice images taken this week
events that you might be interested in
Blog posts this week included
We start with news of a new update to Follow the Things. This is one of the most essential websites for those exploring all things consumer related and interested in supply chains and commodities. The work of Ian Cook et al at the University of Exeter it also has a range of resources developed by students following some of the courses that Ian runs. I was delighted that he also made a contribution to ‘my’ GA Conference in 2022 and I was able to chair and participate in his session where he introduced the Top Trumps cards that we use with Year 8 students. In fact they will be used again after half term. I also created some educational materials for the site some years ago.
‘Follow the things’ is a phrase coined by anthropologist Arjun Appadurai in 1988 and elaborated by anthropologist George Marcus in 1995. Both encouraged academic researchers to undertake multi-site research with people whose lives were (often unknowingly) intertwined through, among other factors, the making, trading, purchase, use and disposal of things. All of the work showcased on this website does this, in one way or another.
In 2004, followthethings.com CEO Ian published a paper called ‘Follow the thing: papaya‘ in an academic journal called Antipode. It was based on his multi-sited ethnographic PhD research along the papaya supply chain linking Jamaica and the UK. In 2017 he explained how this led to the creation of followthethings.com in the Journal of consumer ethics (download here).
I first met Ian in 2006 at the Young People’s Geographies project meeting which he was involved with as an academic - and I was one of the teachers involved.
If you haven’t had a look at Follow the Things before, check it out.
A link to the updated Natural England page which identifies what are now called National Character Areas - areas which have specific Landscape Character with defined characteristics. I work in The Fens, live in Mid-Norfolk, and grew up in the Nottighamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire coalfield area - the picture on the webpage here looks very familiar from my childhood. At weekends we often went into the Peak District: a location I know very well as a result.
Details of a webinar shared by the Oxford Education Deanery on teaching Sustainability in a changed world. A good range of speakers. A recording is available to watch.
A report from Loughborough’s Centre for Research in Social Policy and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation explored the number of people in the UK who apparently don’t earn enough for a decent standard of living.
Details of some interesting AI based websites for teachers.
The Jewel of Arabia Expedition which took place in Oman in January and February, in association with the Royal Geographical Society.
News
This week saw the latest meeting of the RGS-IBG Education Committee. We discussed a wide range of topics. A reminder that you have until March 20th to put yourself forward for joining us. There’s plenty in the pipeline coming up. Special thanks to Richard Bustin for making an input into the meeting.
Extra special thanks to David Preece and Emma Rawlings-Smith for their contributions to the committee over the last four years.
Do you have a student who has completed a particularly impressive and creative NEA? Why not enter them for an RGS Ron Cooke Award.
Sir Ron Cooke, an eminent physical geographer and former President of the Society, has supported this award for A Level students. The award recognises students’ work towards the independent investigation, also known as the NEA. The first Ron Cooke Award was presented to a student who completed an NEA for the 2018 examinations, at our medals and awards ceremony in 2019. Entries for the 2025 Award are now open.
Student’s outstanding NEAs must be submitted by their teacher and we want to celebrate students’ work which has engaged them with new ideas, provided opportunities for innovation and/or demonstrates their personal interest in geography.
Entries must be a fully marked NEA; please submit a copy of the NEA (this does not need to show annotations) plus the supporting form.
We are delighted that the examination boards are supportive of this award and will also be encouraging their centres to submit outstanding scripts for consideration.
Entries for the 2025 Ron Cooke Award are now open. Entries for the 2025 Award shut at 5pm on Friday 14 March 2025.
Have you never checked out Digimap for Schools? There’s a free trial you can have for 30 days. Click here to claim it.
Another week of ridiculous news stories coming out of the USA, as structures and systems are torn up.
Projects
I’ve been coming to the end of a range of writing projects which started in September. These have been interesting and involved a LOT of hours of thinking, researching and writing. Thanks to the editors I’ve worked with, who have helped shape my words into something better with each draft. I’ll tell you all about each project as and when they’re available to view / purchase. Thanks also to the reviewers who gave feedback on one big project - some redrafting to do.
Also thanks to the legendary Karl Donert for his work shaping a new course in teaching about the ethics of AI
This has been funded by The Civic Innovation Fund, and I’ve enjoyed working with European colleagues again.
Reading
I’ve continued to read ‘Your life is Manufactured’ and work out options for updating our ‘Geographies of my Stuff’ unit for next year. It will also feature in our upcoming Open Day at school. In addition to the website which accompanies the book, there are some additional links in the notes section which I wasn’t aware of. A sea route calculator is useful for example, to tell you how far your things have travelled to reach you. It also reminded me of the excellent book ‘ Edible Economics’ by Ho-Joon Chang which I have a copy of. I also revisited Richard Bustin’s excellent ‘What are we Teaching’ ahead of a meeting.
My other read was ‘Impossible City: Paris in the 21st Century’ by Simon Kuper which is very readable. I flipped through lots of city guides as well building an itinerary for a trip in April - recommendations for cafes and picture spots still very welcome. I’ll of course be heading to Saint Sulpice to pay my respects to Georges Perec: one of the imspirations for my GA Presidential theme and lecture, taking in the view from the Tour Montparnasse and Montmartre, visiting Amelie film locations, Notre Dame etc.
Images
An image I took this week.
Signs of spring - snowdrops emerging outside my classroom window in Ely.
And one taken by my wife in London. I love this mural and its message.
Paddington mural near Waterloo Station, London
Events
Booking is still open for the Festival of Geography, hosted by the RGS-IBG and taking place in June. A nice summer-term treat for you perhaps - don’t forget the glow sticks.
Emma Espley is also putting on a useful sounding event for the GA Gloucester Branch, with a look at Green Skills from Professor Kenny Lynch. Details of how to get involved are shown below:
A while away yet, but we always get involved in Fashion Revolution Week, and the 2025 edition is 22nd-27th of April. The theme is Think Globally, Act Locally.
Check out the free resources (donations always welcome) including this excellent fashion industry overview which can be printed large…
A Primary Geography Teacher Training Day - hosted by Wychwood School, Oxford and led by Gyles Morris.
Sign up for the next GeogLive! event. It’s number 25 and takes place on the 12th of March - online at 5pm
Theme:
Join me here in late March as well as Kit Marie Rackley and several others:
And here’s a lecture being organised by the Manchester Branch of the GA in a week’s time. Check the Branch’s Facebook page for contact details.
Details of the latest Geography South West Conference have also been released.
They can be viewed below.
The date of the conference will be Monday 16 June 2025. The conference will take place at UWE in Bristol (walking distance from Bristol Parkway station). As in previous years, teachers will be able to attend the conference for free. This is made possible by the generosity of UWE, the Geographical Association, the RGS/IBG and our highly valued exhibitors.
Registration for the conference will open on 1 April 2025.
Presentations from the conferences in 2024, 2023 and 2022 can be found on this website. https://www.geographysouthwest.co.uk/conference/
Programme for 2025
As usual, the conference will offer four keynote lectures together with workshop options, focusing on a variety of topics and different key stages. There will also be exhibitions and opportunities to 'network' with friends and colleagues. Not least, enjoy the student campus experience for a day! Lectures include:
Jon Cannell (GA) who will be talking about 'Green Skills'
Gerd Masselink (Plymouth) who will lecture on 'Atolls and climate change'
More to come . . .
Also an RGS course with the FSC, and FREE.
