Centenary Events and Activities

Academic Alumni Day
An Academic Alumni Day on Friday 21st August 2009 for an invited audience of academic staff and graduate students, past and present. The programme of research talks for the day is being finalised and will include a series of short research talks from current academic staff and graduate students. Our two invited keynote alumni speakers for the day are: - Professor Stuart Aitken (San Diego State University, USA) - Professor Jim Rose (Gordon Manley Chair of Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London).

Geography Graduate Alumni
The programme for the day includes:

• a 'Geography Then and Now' lecture
• a chance to look around parts of the East Quadrangle building
• an exhibition of photographs, portraits and objects
• a chance to look again at your undergraduate dissertation
• a guest lecture from Professor Iain Stewart (Professor of Geosciences Communication, University of Plymouth and presenter of BBC programmes Earth: the power of the planet; Journeys from the Centre of the Earth; Journeys into the Ring of Fire; Horizo;, Rough Science)
• a drinks reception
• an evening performance of a musical composition by Drew Mulholland specially commissioned for the Centenary, taking place in the University Chapel

Scottish Geographical Journal
A Centenary edition of the Scottish Geographical Journal containing a series of articles, essays and recollections on aspects of geography at Glasgow (this will be published as Volume 125 [3-4], 2009).

Centenary edition of Drumlin
A bumper Centenary edition of Drumlin, Glasgow's student geographical magazine containing essays, reflective entries and less-serious elements(!), considering Geographies Past, Present and Future.

Professor Nigel Thrift lecture
On March 5th 2009, Professor Nigel Thrift (Vice-Chancellor, University of Warwick) received the Royal Scottish Geographical Society medal in recognition of his distinguished contribution to research in human geography. The medal was presented by Mike Robinson (Chief Executive of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society) and Bruce Gittings (Vice-Chair, Royal Scottish Geographical Society). Professor Thrift also delivered a highly entertaining lecture, entitled 'Pass It On: the Political Economy of Propensity', to an audience of academic staff, students and RSGS members.

Professor Paul Bishop lecture
On February 20th 2009, Professor Paul Bishop (Professor of Physical Geography, University of Glasgow) delivered his British Society for Geomorphology’s Wiley Award lecture, based on the award-winning paper 'Long-term landscape evolution: Linking tectonics and surface processes', published in Earth Surface Processes and Landforms in 2007.

Drew Mulholland concert
On January 28th 2009, a concert of new works by composer in residence Drew Mulholland was performed by The Edinburgh Quartet, and Jennifer MacRitchie, Jemma Knox, John Cavanagh and Mark Pilkington, in the University concert room. The pieces are based on psycho-geographical theory, and senses and memories of place. Drew Mulholland was Composer-in-Residence in the Department of Geographical and Earth Sciences 2008-09, funded by an award by the Leverhulme Trust, and has now been commissioned by the Scottish Arts Council to compose music celebrating the Centenary of Geography.