Join us on 5TH JUNE for a talk by Paul Richardson on ‘The Weaponisation of Russian National Identity’. Paul Richardson is Associate Professor in Human Geography at the University of Birmingham with a focus on Political Geography and Russian studies. He is the former President of the Association for Borderland Studies and has worked at Hokkaido University, Japan and the Far Eastern Federal University, Russia. In addition to this he is the author of ‘Myths of Geography’ and ‘At the Edge of the Nation: The Southern Kurils and the Search for Russia’s National Identity’.

Join us on 26th MAY at 5pm in SLT for a talk from Rebecca Roberts on life as a geographer post-Cambridge: choosing between Industry and Academia! Rebecca Roberts is Policy and Partnerships Senior Officer for Nature Unlocked, RBG Kew’s landscape ecology program focusing on policies for multifunctional land use and nature-based solutions. She also has a research background in both agriculture and rural development as well as extensive experience in the charity and environmental sectors. Rebecca graduated with a BA in Geography from Cambridge before pursuing an MA in Agriculture and Rural Development .

Join us 15th MAY in SLT for a talk by Gerry Kearns on Colonialism, Essentialism and the Historical Geography of Capitalism. Gerry Kearns is Professor of Geography at Maynooth University, Ireland. He is the author of Geopolitics and Empire: The Legacy of Halford Mackinder (Oxford University Press, 2009) and has just completed a monograph on the cultural politics of AIDS: Making Space for AIDS: Queering Plague and Providence through Art.

We were delighted to host Dr Samuel T. Brandt, cultural-historical geographer of Latin America and Research Fellow at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, for a talk on rural housing in Uruguay. Drawing on his book More Than a Home: Dwelling, Place, and Poverty in Rural Uruguay, Dr Brandt explored the history and impact of MEVIR, a parastatal institution founded in 1967 to replace precarious rural dwellings with dignified housing. Rooted in mutual aid construction and community planning, MEVIR has built over 33,000 homes across Uruguay, offering a rare model of effective rural social housing. His talk highlighted how geographic knowledge—attention to scale, place, and process—has underpinned MEVIR’s lasting success.

Cugs presents: Nolen Gertz on Friday 2nd May in the SLT for a talk on Nihilism and Technology! Professor Gertz is an Associate Professor of Applied Philosophy at the University of Twente. His research focuses on the intersection between Political Philosophy , Philosophy of Technology and Existential Phenomenology. In addition to his research, Professor Gertz is the author of The Philosophy of War and Exile, Nihilism and Technology as well as Nihilism and his work has been featured in publications such as the Washington Post and the Atlantic to name a few.

Join us 20th March in the SLT for a talk from the pioneering economist Guy Standing to find out why we need and how we can achieve a universal basic income! The maverick Prof. Standing has revolutionised public economics discourse and policy. He first introduced the world to the precariat in 2011, his work since translated into 24 languages – and is the co-founder of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN). As a former advisor to the World Bank, United Nations, and many other international institutions, and instrumental in crafting policy for multiple governments, he has almost singlehandedly revived the idea of a universal basic income within politics.

Klaus Dodds is one of the most influential geopolitical scholars in the world. Prof. Dodds received the Phillip Leverhulme Prize in 2005 for his outstanding contributions to political geography and critical geopolitics. He was elected to the UK’s Academy of Social Sciences as a Fellow, and has worked as a specialist advisor to the House of Lords’ select committee on the Arctic as well as being a former trustee of the Royal Geographical Society. Prof. Dodds will be giving a talk on his new book ‘Border Wars: The conflicts that will define our future’ 11th march 5-6pm in the small lecture theatre at the department of geography, downing site.

On May 14th, Enver Solomon, the current Chief Executive of the Refugee Council came to speak to CUGS members. Through his involvement in journalism and humanitarian work, with previous roles in the BBC, Just For Kids Law, The National Children’s Bureau, Barnado’s, and more, Solomon offered an insightful and exciting panel discussion.

CUGS held a fabulously fun ceilidh on May 4th celebrating the start of the final term of this academic year. With a live band and lots of dancing, it was a great night that was enjoyed by all!

Kate Raworth, the economist behind the Doughnut Economics model, came to speak on March 13th about her model for human and natural wellbeing. She gave insight into how the Doughnut Economics model could be used practically to fundamentally transform economic dynamics, ensuring we can meet human needs without overshooting environmental limits. A fascinating talk to attend!

CUGS held another Geography Pub Quiz on March 7th, where geographers of all years and quizzing abilities got to put their knowledge to the test and have some fun in Emmanuel College!

As the Environmental Team Leader of the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service, John Cornell promotes biodiversity conservation, ecological culture, and the impacts of both on placemaking and identity. Cornell’s talk on March 6th gave a glimpse into the local Cambridge environment.

A collaboration between CUGS and the Cambridge University Education Society, this panel discussion heard from Christine Ozden, the Global Director for Climate Education at Cambridge University Press, and Camilla Hadi Chaudhary, a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Education at Cambridge University.

On January 24th, Professor Joe Smith, the current director of the Royal Geographical Society, gave a talk to CUGS members on the relationships around sustainability between humans and nature. Drawing on his experience within research, writing, and his practical work within sustainability policy and communication, Smith gave a captivating talk on sustainability.