Events at the Royal Geographical Society
OUEC members are entitled to attend many talks and events at the RGS free of charge. Please contact us to be sent one of our membership cards, to be returned after use.
A selection of the Society’s Monday Night lectures is listed below. See www.rgs.org/WhatsOn/ for full details.
Monday 14 January at 18.30
RGS-IBG Members + one guest
Old World, New World: Britain and America from the beginning
Prof Kathleen Burk
A fascinating account of the inter-twining histories of Britain and America, explaining how events of the early 17th century still influence relations between the two countries today.
Monday 21 January at 18.30
RGS-IBG Members + one guest
The cultural and natural heritage of Northern Laos
Dr Paul Rogers
Paul tours fascinating and enigmatic Northern Laos, embracing the former Royal Capital of Luang Prabang, the stone urns of the Plain of Jars and Viengxay’s ‘Hidden City’ of 486 caves.
Monday 28 January at 18.30
RGS-IBG Members + one guest
Cities, civilisation and a new style of living?
Peter Head
As China leads the world in envisioning a resource efficient, ecological age alongside economic growth, Peter describes the planning and design of two remarkable, new eco-city developments in China that aim to put this philosophy into practice. What lessons does this have for existing cities like London?
Monday 4 February at 18.30
RGS-IBG Members only
Force of nature
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
Legendary British sailor, and first to sail solo around the world, describes his latest dramatic race where near-hurricane conditions capsized his yacht: a reminder that this race would test him as never before.
Monday 11 February at 18.30
RGS-IBG Members + one guest
Ghosts of Spain
Giles Tremlett
Giles journeys through modern Spain and its silent, secret past. After sixty years, the appearance of mass graves from the Franco era has finally broken what Spaniards call ‘the pact of forgetting’.
Monday 18 February at 18.30
RGS-IBG Members + one guest
Bombay Africans
Cliff Pereira
Cliff reveals the extraordinary hidden histories of a group of 19th century African men who, freed from slavery and residing in India, returned to Africa alongside explorers such as Burton, Speke and Livingstone.
Monday 25 February at 18.30
RGS-IBG Members only
The story of India
Michael Wood
Following his recent highly-acclaimed BBC2 series, Michael Wood takes a compelling journey into southern India to uncover the world’s last classical civilisation.
Monday 3 March at 18.30
RGS-IBG Members + one guest
Limiting harmful climate change – whose responsibility?
Lord Adair Turner
Adair Turner, business leader, writer and expert on the economics of climate change considers how society can meet the challenge of global warming, the technologies and policies needed and the division of responsibility between government, business and the consumer.
Monday 10 March at 18.30
RGS-IBG Members + one guest
Through the land of extremes: the Littledales of Central Asia
Nicholas & Elizabeth Clinch
Famous in their time, Teresa and St. George Littledale are almost forgotten today. Nicholas and Elizabeth bring to light the Littledales expeditions to Central Asia in the 1890s at the height of the Great Game.
Monday 17 March at 18.30
RGS-IBG Members only
Among stone giants
Dr Jo Anne Van Tilberg
Jo Anne, the expert on Easter Island, shares her work studying the island’s iconic Moai statues and gives a fascinating account of Edwardian archaeologist Katherine Routledge, the first woman to research the island.
Monday 31 March at 18.30
RGS-IBG Balloted lecture Members only
Wallace and the birds of paradise
Sir David Attenborough
David shows film footage and describes the various species that so obsessed Lord Alfred Russell Wallace, who was the first European to see the display of the spectacular birds of paradise.
Please note that this lecture is balloted. One ticket entry per member. Entries can be submitted by post only, using the ballot application form on page 26 of the Bulletin. Closing date for applications is Monday 3 March.
