Sport - Rugby School

Societies
2009/10
Societies
Geography Society
This has been another busy and successful
year for the Geography Society, and I have
been ably assisted by three very pro-active
members of the XX: Alex Ward, Annabelle
Chelsom and Lucy Suddaby, all of Stanley
House. They have created a varied and
interesting programme on behalf of the
Geography Department for the students
and staff to enjoy, and the standard is now
set for others to follow next year in much
the same vein.
Will Gow – Antarctica Experience
An OR of School Field, Will came to speak to the F block
geographers in particular about his experiences on the most
challenging of continents, Antarctica. He is not an expeditioner,
but works in the city; however his family connections to
Shackleton drew him to this icy wilderness. He spoke of the
arduous planning and preparation that was needed to get the
trip off the ground as well as the physical and mental demands
that were made on him when faced with a trek to the South
Pole. His talk was both entertaining and inspiring, and his time
was very much appreciated by all.
Hazel Barrett – HIV
Professor Barrett is currently conducting numerous research
projects from Coventry University, and she made the short
journey to the School to speak mainly to the Upper School
geographers about the myths and mysteries that surround HIV/
Aids. She made particular reference to Africa and explained why
finding a cure and preventing the spread of this catastrophic
disease is an uphill struggle for the continent. She also made
reference to the fact that this is not just a disease for the poverty
stricken, nor is the risk necessarily exclusive to those who are
involved in homosexual relationships.
Rosie Hamp – Gap Years
It was felt that the Upper School needed to hear more about
gap year opportunities post A-level, and Rosie Hamp used this
opportunity to inform those who were currently considering
this option to think very carefully about what actually they were
planning to achieve. There was a clear message from this talk
– take a gap year and explore other landscapes and cultures,
but make sure that you can come back and justify what you
have done, particularly considering the employment market is
so competitive nowadays. In addition, helping communities less
well-off than our own is hugely rewarding, and Rosie represents
an organisation that does just that.
Pippa King – what can you do with a
Geography degree
Pippa kindly agreed to come to Rugby to speak to our Upper
School students about the usefulness of Geography in the
workplace, with specific reference to her own personal experience
of the subject from A level upwards. She brought home the fact
that Geography provides a breadth and depth of education with
regard to the environmental, social and economic challenges
to life on the planet, as well as arming the student with
transferrable skills that can be used throughout one’s lifetime.
Pippa illustrated how her love for the subject encouraged further
study towards a masters degree, and how rigour and motivation
was required to allow her to study in great depth the specific
issue she had chosen. This attention to detail and the ability to
multi-task (holding down a job whilst studying) enabled her to
gain her present employment at London Zoo, mainly as events
co-ordinator but also with an involvement in current scientific
research with regard to endangered species, which sounds both
a fascinating and fulfilling post.
Dan Box – Evacuation of Carterets Islands
Dan Box brought a close to our events for this year with a very
vivid talk on the evacuation of the Carterets Islands – the world’s
first climate change refugees, as the press would report it. He
spoke of how he was able to visit such a remote part of the
world, how friendly and generous the people of the island were,
and whether or not the evacuation was due to climatic changes
or other factors at force. There was plenty to think about at our
Society supper afterwards!
JCE
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