University of Exeter: Royal Geographical Society awards for two Exeter academics

Today (03 May), it has been announced that Professor Nicola Thomas and Professor Paul Cloke will receive honours as part of the Royal Geographical Society’s 2022 awards.

Professor Thomas will receive the Taylor and Francis Award for outstanding leadership in research-led teaching and community partnerships, whilst Professor Cloke will receive the Victoria Medal for his contribution to rural geography and to the wider discipline.

Professor of Historical and Cultural Geography, Nicola Thomas said: “It is my great fortune to be able to work with amazing students, colleagues and partners, and to be part of a larger learning community which tackles complex challenges by applying current critical geographical thinking.

“It has been a hugely rewarding and enjoyable process to support and develop rich learning communities which combine students, academic colleagues, and partners from civic, creative, heritage and arts organisations. Encouraging intergenerational, cross sector dialogues, informed by contemporary geographical critical thinking has led to rich outcomes and shared understanding.”

Professor of Human Geography, Paul Cloke said: “This is a wonderful honour, and I am deeply grateful to the wider geographical community for their recognition of my research and scholarship in rural, social and cultural geographies.

“Throughout my career I have worked in close cooperation and partnership with many fantastic colleagues, so I also see this award as recognition for the contribution made by those collaborators who have enriched both the practices and achievements of the critical scholarship that is being honoured by this Victoria Medal.”

This year the Society’s medals and awards recognise 23 different people or organisations for their outstanding contributions to geography which will be presented by the Society’s President, Nigel Clifford, at a celebration at the Society on 6 June.