Austria
The Austrian Geographical Society (Österreichische Geographische Gesellschaft)
The Austrian Geographical Society was founded in 1856 and is the eighth-oldest still existing society of this type in the world.
During the 19th century, the society's function was the promotion of research in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy as well as abroad and to publish its results. It was the meeting point of well-educated upper classes, namely members of the nobility, of the military and of the academia, interested in foreign countries and striving for encyclopaedic knowledge. The Geographical Society was, however, not only a social forum for exchanging ideas and information, but also an important benefactor of geographical research by supporting it financially.
The break up of the monarchy brought the end of the Society's heyday period. In the interwar period, it was extremely difficult to finance any activities. In spite of that, the Society made efforts to support publications, research and excursions into foreign countries. Thus, during the thirties, excursions to Iceland, Norway and North Africa were funded. The Society still was the forum for those interested in foreign countries, adventure and environmental phenomena.
The collapse after World War II was more serious than after World War I. The goals of Austrian geography, namely to play a significant role in the exploration of the world, to be of social and political relevance and one of the leading scientific disciplines became obsolete after 1945. The re-institutionalisation of the Society was arduous and slow. No extended excursions could be financed, but series of lectures and occasional exhibitions were regularly organised, and the Mitteilungen der Österreichischen Geographischen Gesellschaft (MÖGG) were published.
In 2006, the Austrian Geographical Society will celebrate its 150th anniversary. It is still an important institution though its functions underwent fundamental changes. Every year, the Mitteilungen were published, the only relevant journal in Austrian geography, and the MÖGG and the Geographische Zeitschrift in Germany.
Belgium
Société Royale Belge de Géographie
The "Société Belge de Géographie" was founded on 27 August 1876, just a few days before King Léopold II opened the "Conférence géographique de Bruxelles". In 1882, the Society was allowed to add the term "Royale" to its name. There was then a great interest towards a better knowledge of the different parts of the world, under the influence of colonialism and trade. At the end of the century, the Society had more than a thousand members, scientists, but mainly businessmen, lawyers or civil servants.
From the beginning, the Society has published a journal, named "Bulletin de la Société (Royale) Belge de Géographie" and "Revue Belge de Géographie" from 1962. This last change of name renders deeper changes. At the end of the Fifties, the Society lost the financial support from colonial corporations: the Revue became more closely associated to academic research. As a fulfilment of this trend, the journal merged in 2000 with the "Bulletin de la Société Belge d'Etudes Géographiques" under the name "Belgeo", publishing more and more papers in English, with strict requirements of paired review.
Another constant goal of the Society is popularization. This goal has for a long time only been achieved through the organisation of conferences. Since the Eighties, the Society has published atlases of Belgium and Europe and a collection of touristic guidebooks, under the title "Hommes et Paysages" (now 34 booklets have been published), proposing geographical fieldtrips in Belgium.
The Society is holding a library. The collection of books, journals, atlases and maps has gained evident historical value, due to the age of the Society.
The Society, which counts about 120 members now, mainly geographers, is located at the Geographical Institute of the "Université Libre de Bruxelles".
Société Belge de Géographie
Geographical Institute of the Université Libre de Bruxelles
Campus Plaine, Boulevard du Triomphe
Gate 5
Building S
(Mail address: Av. F.D. Roosevelt, 50, CP. 246, 1050 Brussels)
Czech Republic
Czech Geographical Society
The Czech Geographical Society was established inside of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1894. During 1920-1939 and 1945-1990, it was Czechoslovak Geographical Society.
Denmark Royal Danish Geographical Society (Kongelige Danske Geografiske Selskab) Det Kongelige Danske Geografiske Selskab (the Royal Danish Geographical Society) was established November 18th, 1876 with the dual purpose of 'disseminating knowledge of the Earth and its inhabitants' and to 'promote interest in geographical sciences'. To achieve its aims the society arranges meetings, where lectures on geographical themes can be discussed, publishes a journal, and keeps a library and collection of maps. The society attempts in the first place to inform about Danish geographical research and to form links to other geographical and related societies. Up to WW I the society had an important role in initiating, supporting, and reporting Arctic research, particularly in relation to Greenland, which was thus kept under Danish aegis. Most of the leading polar researchers were awarded the society's Gold Medal (Nansen, Nordenskiöld, Scott, Amundsen, Shackleton) and gave lectures in Copenhagen. Exploration was a leading motive of the time, and it still was in the time between the great wars. The arctic expeditions with sledges and dogs culminated with Knud Rasmussen's 5th Thule-expedition along the entire polar edge of the North American continent to trace Eskimo origins. Expeditions became modernized by utilizing airplanes (Lauge Koch). Danish expeditions in Central Asia (Haslund-Christensen) provided much new information, but domestic geomorphology attracted increasing interest, specifically the dynamics of the wadden-sea coastal landscape. The post-war society has maintained its interest in arctic research and also in being he main outlet for the results of Danish geographical research. Presently, themes such as coastal and glacial-periglacial morphology, climatic change, satellite-based analyses of agrarian landscapes in Africa, urban development and the forming of the Öresundregion are at the fore, along with a modernization of the geographical discipline. Presently the society has some 400 members. Kongelige Danske Geografiske Selskab Finland Geographical Society of Finland Geographical Society of Finland is a community of geographers and those interested in geography. The Society traces its origins back to 1888, when two organizations, the Geographical Society of Finland and Finnish Geographical Association, were founded. They were united into a single organization in 1921. The Society's purpose is to promote research in geography and related sciences at home and abroad. The Society's official languages are Finnish and Swedish. The Society had 1,067 members at the end of 2003, including 6 honorary members and 61 corresponding members. The Society arranges an annual meeting, inviting visiting speakers from aboard. Public lectures are arranged on topics of current interest. Geographical Society of Finland publishes two journals. Orders for the Society's publications (TERRA and FENNIA) should be sent to Geographical Society of Finland www.helsinki.fi/maantiede/geofi/geosofi.html France La Société de Géographie La Société de Géographie has been participating in various activities since 1822. The Society organises monthly conferences, exhibitions, visits and trips to places of interest and awards prizes and medals for geographical work. The society also sponsors expeditions, lends its facilities for sister organisations to use, holds other conferences and organises trips for its members. The society has a magazine entitled La Géographie. The society has a considerable collection of reviews, maps, atlases, globes and photographs, although these are stored off site. The society is a member of EUGEO and participates in IGU every four years. Société de Géographie Germany German Society of Geography (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geographie) President: Prof. Dr. Elmar Kulke (Berlin) The German Society of Geography (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geographie/DGfG) is the umbrella organisation for all geographical associations and societies in Germany with ca. 25,000 members. The DGfG represents the interests of geographers working at schools, universities and in applied professions. The DGfG works to communicate to the public the significance of geography as a school subject, a science and a practical discipline. It takes a stand on current issues, supports and co-ordinates the work of the constituent associations, and tries to build on the synergy effects of the constituent associations. Its decentralised organisational structure is intended to serve the particular needs and aims of different professional groups where geographers are active, and to provide a better organisational backup for its members. Within the framework of the German Society of Geography, 32 study groups make a very important contribution to research and to the further theoretical and methodological development of geography. The DGfG is responsible for the "Conference of German Geographers" (Deutscher Geographentag) which takes place every other year (the 2005 meeting will be held in Trier). The German Society of Geography was established in 1995. Its predecessor was the Central Association of German Geographers (Zentralverband der Deutschen Geographen) which was founded in 1951. The structural changes made in the 1990s were a necessary adaptation to the new situation after German reunification. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geographie e.V. Great Britain Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers The Royal Geographical Society with The Institute of British Geographers (RGS-IBG) is a national and international learned society and professional body for geography and geographers. It was founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical science and played a major role historically in scientific exploration, dissemination of knowledge, and in developing geography as a discipline in universities and in the school curriculum. It has been among the most active of the learned societies ever since its foundation. Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers Ireland The Geographical Society of Ireland The Geographical Society of Ireland was founded in 1934 to promote geographical studies in Ireland and welcomes as members all persons who are interested in the subject. Some ninety people attended the first meeting convened in Academy House, Dublin in November 1934. Robert Lloyd Praeger was elected as the first President of the GSI. In 1944 the Society published its first journal, titled Bulletin of the Geographical Society of Ireland. Within three years this was restyled as Irish Geography - a title it holds to the present day. From January 2008, Irish Geography will be published by Taylor and Francis and will be moving from two to three issues per year, an indication of the growing international recognition and success of this journal. In addition to this significant contribution in promoting a greater understanding and awareness of the geography of Ireland on both a national and international basis, the Society also hosts a number of public lectures annually, organises a special syllabus-oriented lecture each October in association with the Association of Geography Teachers of Ireland, hosts a special Leaving Certificate lecture series for second-level students, organises a Careers Advisory session for Geography undergraduate students, an annual fieldtrip and, since 2006, has been co-host of the annual Conference of Irish Geographers. The Society has approximately 230 full members spanning four continents.
Italy Italian Geographical Society (Società Geografica Italiana) The Italian Geographical Society has been a free association since its foundation in 1867. Anyone can join who endorses the objectives in its Statute, which can be summarized as promoting the advancement of geographical knowledge. As early as in 1869, the Italian State granted it the status of "moral entity" (non-profit foundation). More recently, the Society has been officially recognized as an environmentalist association. This administrative recognition is because the Society has always sought, and still does so, to make its heritage of assets and knowledge available to the general public, directly or indirectly via the use made of it by the Society itself. A constant feature of the Italian Geographical Society's long life has been its interest in its country and citizens and in humanity as whole, within the modes and limits of a scientific-cultural association. The Society also engages in activities intended to increase geographical knowledge. A wide-ranging 'diplomatic' initiative by the Society has been its invitation to the geographical associations of the EU countries to found a European Society for Geography, EUGEO. Also housed at the Italian Geographical Society is the Home of Geography, the permanent secretariat headquarters of the International Geographical Union. Società Geografica Italiana segreteria@societageografica.it Associazione dei Geografi italiani The Associazione dei Geografi Italiani is the youngest of the geographical associations in Italy: it came into being relatively recently, in 1978, and celebrated its first jubilee last year. However, its origins can be traced considerably further back in time. Previously, in fact, the interests of geographers working in Italy's universities had been furthered by the Comitato dei Geografi Italiani (Co.Ge.I.), founded in 1967 and whose members were full professors in the geographical disciplines. The association is open to all geographers working in various professional capacities at the country's universities and took on the professional development of its members, the defence of the discipline within Italian academe, its promotion, both in Italy and abroad, and the organization of scientific meetings. The principal task of the association is organization of the Italian Geographical Congresses, organized with the same four-year intervals as the international ones. Annually, except in years when the association holds its Congresses, are, as well, organized the Giornate della Geografia, seminars intended to prompt reflection on themes of outstanding interest and to present the results of the association's work groups. In fact, the association promotes research by supporting the formation of study groups and encouraging the international exchange of ideas. It also ran fieldwork days in specific territorial areas: these inter-university excursions took the form of itinerant visits to regional areas and concentrated in particular on those most marginal to large-scale tourism. The association also mounts various initiatives to develop relationships among its members - a purpose well served, for example, by the editing and updating of the Repertorio dei dipartimenti e insegnamenti di discipline geografiche nelle Università italiane (Directory of Italian University Geography Departments and Courses) and the Indirizzario dei docenti (List of Geography Lecturer Addresses) by the association's current president, Professor Alberto Di Blasi. The association's official publication is the journal Geotema, which is published on an occasional basis and takes the form of a monographic issue on themes of particular importance and subjected to specific research. www.agei.org The Italian Association of Geography Teachers (AIIG) Awaiting details Societa di Studi Geografici Awaiting details Netherlands Royal Dutch Geographical Society (Koninklijk Nederlands Aardrijkskundig Genootschap (KNAG)) In 2003 the Royal Dutch Geographical Society (KNAG) celebrated its 130th anniversary. When the need to explore vanished, the Society turned its focus to the Dutch geographers and geography in The Netherlands. Today the Society is The Netherlands' professional association of geographers, geography students and geography teachers with 4000 members. The promotion of geography in general, and the improvement of its position in secondary and higher education in particular, are some of the tasks carried out by the Society. It offers a venue for discussion among geographers in a range of professions: research & education, private & public sector, national and international. The Society is still known as publisher. Its periodicals Geografie, a journal in Dutch for geographers who want to keep informed on a broad range of topics; and the scientific, English-language journal Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie (Journal of Economic and Social Geography) find their way to an enthusiastic audience. Koninklijk Nederlands Aardrijkskundig Genootschap (KNAG) www.geography.nl / www.knag.nl Poland Polish Geographical Society Awaiting details Portugal Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa (SGL) The Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa (SGL) was founded in 1875. It is, in both its aims and origins, an institution which is closely linked to the Portuguese situation at the time, to the Europe of that time and to the problem of Portuguese position in relation to overseas colonies and, in particular, to Africa. Over the years, and through the changing fortunes of the country, it established itself as perhaps no other private institution has done, being actively connected to Portuguese cultural life, at times undertaking initiatives, at others collaborating according to the needs of national life. Today, the maintenance and strengthening of cultural and scientific ties with Portuguese speaking countries through conferences, seminars, the production of books and the systematic publication of the Bulletin is a fundamental concern. The Library of the Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa is currently recognised, both nationally, as indispensable for anyone wishing to research into not only the Portuguese Discoveries and Expansion, but also the Geography, History and Ethnography of the community of Portuguese speaking countries. It, therefore, annually welcomes researchers from all over the world. Members of the SGL can join together according to their academic and cultural interest to fulfil the statutory requirements. The four General Committees should be mentioned as well as the fifteen Professional Departments. Encompassing a large amount of the knowledge, deriving from Cartography and Mathematical Geography, trough Literature and Historical studies on Heritage, these work groups have held numerous study sessions, presenting papers and debates where varied initiatives have been put forward. The Bulletin of SGL keeps readers up to date with these sessions through summaries or even in the reproduction of papers given. Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa (SGL) http://socgeografia-lisboa.planetaclix.pt/ Romania Romanian Geographical Society Awaiting details Serbia Serbian Geographical Society Awaiting details Slovakia Slovenská geografická spolocnost pri SAV The first Slovak geographers would regularly participate in meetings and other events organized by Czechoslovak Geographical Society, dating back to 1894. In 1946 the branch in Bratislava was established named the Slovak Geographic Society led by Jan Hromádka. The development of Slovak geography as a science, its wider penetration into the school system on all levels, and the continuous growth of personal background were the basic premises for the formation of independent geographical society. In 1955 the preparatory committee started to work (Mikuláš Koncek, Michal Lukniš a Ján Hanzlík) and on December 8th in 1955 the constitutive meeting of the Slovak Geographic Society under Slovak Academy of Sciences took place in Bratislava. Michal Lukniš had been elected the first chairman of the society. In 1959 the first regional branch was established – the East Slovakian subsidiary in Prešov. The first meeting of the society took place in Bratislava in 1959. At this time the society registered 175 members. In the following period, further regional branches were established – the West Slovakian in Bratislava (in 1965) and the Central Slovakian in Banská Bystrica (in 1966). Furthermore, in 1960 the speleological branch was founded seating in Liptovský Mikuláš. The society had 372 members in 1967. The members would regularly meet at general assembly within the congress. Until now there took place 14 meetings (since 1998 they are called congresses) – in 1959, 1961 and 1991 in Bratislava, in 1964 in Košice, in 1967 in Liptovský Mikuláš, in 1970, 1986 and 2006 in Banská Bystrica, in 1974 and 2002 in Nitra, in 1978 in Levice, in 1982 and 1998 in Prešov and in 1994 in Castá. At the head of the society were Michal Lukniš (1955-1970), Pavol Plesník (1970-1974), Emil Mazúr (1974-1978), Ján Drdoš (1978-1986, 1990-1992), Oliver Bašovský (1986-1990), Michal Zatko (1992-1998), Jozef Mládek (1998-2006) and René Matlovic (since 2006).
At present there are eight geography workplaces (university departments and 1 research institute) representing the base of the Slovak geography in the six centres (Bratislava, Prešov, Banská Bystrica, Nitra, Košice and Ružomberok). Nowadays the Slovak Geographic Society has 300 geographers. It has five regional branches (Bratislava, the West Slovakian, the Central Slovakian, the East Slovakian, and Košice) and the three specialised committees (theoretical geography, applied geography, and school geography). Every four years the society organizes the congress, which includes the general assembly, the supreme body of the society. The last congress was in Banská Bystrica and the forthcoming congress is going to be held in Košice in 2010. The Slovak Geographical Society will organize the next EUGEO congress, which is going to be held in Bratislava in 2009.
Spain Real Sociedad Geográfica (R.S.G.) In 1901 the Sociedad Geográfica de Madrid, created in 1876, was granted by King Alfonso XIII the rank of royal society. Like many other 19th-century European geographical societies, it was born in close relation to the political power. In fact, many other members were well-known politicians, among them several Prime Ministers as well as all kind of public men and scientists (geographers, cartographers, engineers, historians, geologists, etc.) engineers or army officers. At present, with around 400 members, the Real Sociedad Geográfica (R.S.G.) keeps sharing with the historic one a similar composition of their members and an extensive idea of the geographic knowledge. From its beginnings, the (R.S.G.) collaborated actively with European and American geographers and was one of the seven societies that incorporated the International Geographical Union in 1922 acting from then as IGU's Spanish Committee. In 1996 the Spanish Committee has been enlarged with other nationwide and regional geographical bodies and entities. There are such an ex officio permanent member of the R.S.G. as the Instituto Geográfico Nacional, and other State specialised and related to geography bodies (Cartography, Geology, Oceanography) beside the Instituto de Economía y Geografía (High Council for Scientific Research). Such a wide and large network of scientific and institutional relations has bloomed into an intense geographic diffusion in meetings, congresses, courses, conferences and publications. In the early years since its creation in 1876, the Society took part in relevant discoveries and land penetration actions in the African spanish-influenced eastern coast (Morocco, West Sahara and the Gulf of Guinea). After this colonial concern for enlarging the world, in the first decades of the 20th century the Society was increasingly aware of Spain's needs for improvement and paying attention to it Societat Catalana de Geografia The SCG is one of the affiliated institutions of the Institut d'Estudis Catalans - IEC, a historical academic consortium for the development of scientific knowledge and the promotion of Catalan culture created in 1907 by Enric Prat de la Riba. The SCG was founded in 1935 as a branch of the IEC and annexed to its Department of Sciences. It first president was Pau Vila that proudly represented the two traditional sides of the interest in geography of Catalan Civil society: the excursionist associations and the school teacher's interest. Unfortunately the activities of the SCG were abruptly stopped by the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and it was unable to maintain open public activities during the Franco's regime. Following the difficult decades of the dictatorship, the SCG is now an important reference for people interested in geography in the country. The goal of the SCG is to organize all sorts of rigorous scientific activities and to maintain an open debate in all areas of interest in relation to Catalonia and elsewhere in the world as Catalan geographers become increasingly internationalized. At present, the SCG is quite active and maintains a stable and heterogeneous membership of over 400 members. It organizes monthly conferences, and scientific debates besides workshops and field trips covering different aspects of Catalan reality or examples of the most recent research conducted in geography. Today the SCG maintains geography not only as an academic matter but an important social asset for the development of our community. Since the 1980s the SCG publishes Treballs de la Societat Catalana de Geografia that has become an important showcase of all the activities of this organization. On the other hand, the SCG has also undertaken a task of reedited classical works of Catalan Geographers. Please check our website for further information on our history, activities, membership and publications. Societat Catalana de Geografia Sweden Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography (Svenska Sällskapet för Antropologi och Geografi (SSAG)) SSAG was inaugurated under its present name in 1877, as an extension of the activities of the Association for Anthropology founded in 1873. This was a time of great exploratory expeditions, and the SSAG took a particularly active part in the scientific description of the Arctic region, highlighted by the 'Vega' voyage through the passage north of Siberia led by Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld in 1878-1879. The symbol of the Society shows a woman with laurel wreaths, a native with a globe, and the Vega ship at a rocky coast. The spirit of Nordenskiöld permeated much of SSAG's activities with lectures and expeditions by geographer Otto Nordenskjöld to Antarctica in 1901-03, anthropologist Erland Nordenskiöld to South America and by explorer Sven Hedin to Central Asia. But SSAG's activities also included research on Swedish Ethnology (Sigurd Erixon), Baltic urban geography (Sten De Geer) and the beginning of geopolitics (Rudolf Kjellén), to name a few of renowned members during the first fifty years. In recent years SSAG is more dedicated to the popularization of the three disciplines and to current topics, e.g. environmental degradation, physical planning, political geography and questions of underdevelopment. The gold medalists of later years include Eric Bylund 2000, Sherry B. Ortner 2001, Lonnie G. Thompson 2002, Doreen Massey 2003 and Tim Ingold, 2004. The present activities of SSAG include Switzerland Swiss Geographical Society Awaiting details
Since 1896 it has been publishing a scholarly quarterly entitled "Sborník", which last name from 1996 is "Geografie" (Geography). It is one of the Czech (as well as European) oldest scholarly journals. The journal for geography teachers is named "Geografické rozhledy" (Geographical horizons).
From the beginning, the Czech Geographical Society has been university-based. Initially, it was Charles University of Prague, the oldest university in the Central Europe.
Very beneficial to the Czech Geographical Society was its co-operation with the Academy of Sciences. The Institute of Geography of the Czechoslovakian Academy of Sciences had its headquarters in Brno between 1952-1993 (at a former monastery where, in the mid-19th century, Augustinian monk Gregor Mendel discovered the laws of genetics) and was originally so closely linked with the Geographical Society, especially under director Jaromír Demek, who was also the head of the Geomorphological Map Section of the IGU in the 1970s. Unfortunately, the Institute of Geography did not survive the transformation period and it was dissolved in 1993.
The most spectacular international achievement of the Czech Geographical Society after fall of communism was the regional International Geographical Union Conference, organised in Prague in 1994 – the Society's centenary.
The Czech Geographical Society has 498 members organized in nine local branches (Prague, Brno, Olomouc, Ostrava, Plzen, Ceské Budejovice, Ústí nad Labem, Hradec Králové and Liberec). It is divided to the seven sections according to system of geographical sciences: Physical Geography, Socio-Economic Geography, Regional Geography, GIS and Cartography, Historical and Environmental Geography, Geographical Education, and the smallest (but very active) Polar Section.
Congresses of the society are organized every four years. The last one was held in Ceské Budejovice at 2006, next one will be held in Ostrava at 2010. In the meantime (2008) the National Conference will be held in Liberec.
This essence of the society's founding declaration has consistently been materialized during its first 125 years of existence.
Øster Voldgade 10
DK 1350 Copenhagen K
Denmark
TERRA is the leading Finnish- and Swedish-language geographical quarterly in Finland. It contains articles, review articles and discussion, book reviews, news and information for Finnish geographers and others interested in geography.
FENNIA is published twice a year chiefly in English. Its issues consist of original research articles. Special consideration is given to manuscripts addressing the northern aspect.
ATLAS OF FINLAND introduces the reader to the natural environment, population, economy, society and cultural life of Finland. Six editions have been published. The first of them, published in 1899, was the first national atlas in the world. Further editions came out in 1910, 1925, 1960, 1977-1994 (a series of 26 folios devoted to specific topics) and in 1999 to celebrate the volume's 100th anniversary. An updated and expanded English-language version of the sixth edition was published as a special issue of FENNIA and as an attached CD-Rom in November, 2002 (Volume 180: 1-2).
Bookstore Tiedekirja, Kirkkokatu 14, FIN-00170 Helsinki, Finland.
P.O.Box 64
FIN-00014
University of Helsinki
Finland
La Société de Géographie is one of the oldest French learned societies and the oldest geographical society in the world. It was founded in 1812 by Jean Nicolas Buache, who was geographer and cartographer to Louis XVI and has been in public use since 1827.
184, Boulevard Saint-Germain
75006 Paris
France
1st Vice-president: Prof. Dr. Dieter Böhn (Würzburg)
2nd Vice-president: Dr. Rudolf Juchelka (Aachen)
Secretary General: Dr. Karin Wessel (Berlin)
c/o Geographisches Institut der Humboldt-Universität Berlin
Rudower Chaussee 16
12489 Berlin
The Society's activities currently focus on supporting and promoting geographical research, education (secondary and tertiary levels), fieldwork and expeditions, and wider public understanding and enjoyment of geography. It also promotes the contribution of geography to policy and plays a strong role in advocacy for geography. The RGS-IBG voice and role was greatly strengthened by the merger of the Royal Geographical Society with The Institute of British Geographers in 1995, creating one body and facilitating new strategic thinking and developments.
The Society has a membership of approximately 14,000 in the UK and around the world, but as a charity serves a wide range of stakeholders. The programme of activities includes over 150 lectures, seminars and conferences each year, that range from a major programme of popular lectures in London and the nine regional branches to the four day International Annual Conference in September for the research community. RGS-IBG has 23 specialist research groups linked to current research areas within the discipline, and the Society publishes three of the leading international academic geography journals. A specialist unit, the Expedition Advisory Centre, is devoted to the training and advising of young field scientists; and the Public Affairs Unit supports initiatives in policy, advocacy and the media. The Society's information resources, which amount to over 2 million items dating from 1482 to present - maps, photographs, manuscripts, books and artifacts - have been opened for the first time in 2004 to public use in a £7m project that includes a new Study Centre, complemented by new display, education and meeting facilities, as well as online learning resources.
The Society welcomes applications for Membership, Fellowship and for the accredited professional status of Chartered Geographer (C.Geog.). Details on www.rgs.org/membership
Lowther Lodge
1 Kensington Gore
London
SW7 2AR
The Italian Geographical Society does not concern itself solely with applied research. The main goal of its policy is the advancement of geographical knowledge; expanding, updating or innovating knowledge but also fostering geographic culture and environmental awareness. The Society seeks to foster geographic culture and heritage in various ways. The first, obvious and traditional, is that of documentation: with approximately 300,000 volumes, the Society's Library conserves the most important collection of specialized documentation in Italy, and one of the most significant in the world. The Map Library holds over 50,000 modern geographical maps, which is almost complete with regard to Italy's territory and seas. There is also an Antique Collection, an Oriental Collection, more than 150,000 photographic images from the mid-nineteenth century onwards, and the Society's Manuscript Archives. The collections are accessible to members and to all those applying to consult it; many of the works conserved are unique to the collection.
Publishing activities remain essential for the exchange of ideas among scholars and for public awareness. The oldest Italian geographical magazine, and one of the oldest in the world, is the Society's Bollettino della Società Geografica Italiana: published since 1868. There is also a range of scientific monographs. The Society's publications aim to present the results of Italian and international scientific geography, as well as essential news on the association's activities, to members, who receive the Bollettino free.
Villa Celimontana
Via della Navicella
00184 Roma
Italia
The Society was established in 1873 to increase the knowledge of the earth. At that time, the map of the world contained many blank spots, i.e. there were numerous locations around the world that were not yet visited by Europeans.
The Society showed a great interest in these unknown areas. First of all, the aim of the Society's members was to enlarge the scientific knowledge of these places, but they also had an eye on the commercial possibilities these areas bared. Under the device 'trade follows science', the Society's members set out to organize and carry out their expeditions with which they brought home new and practical knowledge of the earth.
In total, around forty expeditions have been organized under the auspices of the Society. All the mapping, making inventories and collecting samples has resulted in an impressive heritage.
Postbus 80123
3508 TC Utrecht
Nederland
General cultural activity in a wide variety of fields has also been on the increase. From the study of the rational exploitation and exploration of the oceans, cartography and mathematical geography as well as the conservation of cultural heritage to the most varied areas of historical and literary study, its Committees and Departments have demonstrated the range of SGL activities.
Rua das Portas de St° Antão
100 - 1150 Lisboa
Portugal
The Real Sociedad Geográfica's activity in its more than 125 years of history has left as a precious inheritance an excellent specialised library, with more than 11,000 books, 12,700 booklets and 110 Spanish and foreign geographical journals, plus a large map collection with more than 700 maps, many of them dated in the 18th and 19th centuries and a few of them manuscript. This bibliographic and cartographic treasure is permanently hosted and accessible in the Biblioteca Nacional de Madrid. The Real Sociedad Geográfica is proud of its journal, Boletín de la Real Sociedad Geográfica, the oldest geographical journal published in Spain since 1876 . The most relevant geographers, historians, economists, geologists and many other specialists have been edited in it. The result of the Real Sociedad Geográfica's publishing activity are around 50 books on subjects related to discoveries, expeditions and scientific travels, including the contributions of spanish geographers to several congresses and scientific meetings.
Casa de Convalescència
Carrer del Carme, 47
08001 Barcelona
- meetings with lectures on topics of member interest
- annual meetings where doctoral students present ongoing research
- bi-annual excursions
- Vega day, April 24, when the Society's medals are awarded and a symposium is held on a topic chosen by the medalist.
- scholarships granted to doctoral students for projects including travel and other expenses
- publications: Geografiska Annaler, series A, Physical Geography, Geografiska Annaler, series B, Human Geography (both in English) , Årsboken Ymer (in Swedish).
SSAG co-operates with local and professional associations of Geographers and Anthropologists in Sweden and is a member of EU- GEO, The European Geographical Society.
SSAG
Baltic and East European Graduate School
Södertörn University College
SE-141 89 Huddinge Sweden
www.humangeo.su.se/ssag