Geography Society - March 2008

Date: Wednesday 12 March 2008

At a point when most departments are thinking largely about coursework deadlines, and an Easter holiday revision programme for exam candidates, Geographers are still working to extend their knowledge about extra-curricular topics, and enjoy the presentations from their colleagues via the meetings of the Geography Society.

Such a meeting took place this evening, and two speakers, Joe Oliver (U6) and David van Rooyen(L6) regaled a full audience with personal insights into life in the Cypriot city of Nicosia, and into 'climate change'. Joe, a man with some Cypriot background I suspect, gave a very clear expose of the attempts made by the authorities in the two halves of Nicosia - Greek and Turkish - to build bridges between two polarised communities in an attempt to regenerate and revitalise the old walled city. Younger generations may see themselves as Cypriots, but centuries-long racial tensions are very difficult to dissipate.

David's talk, after the traditional break for refreshment, Geogo-style, focused the group on the factors influencing 'global warming'. A very well illustrated, and witty, presentation suggested a range of explanations for the earth's cycle of climate change. Is it the result of mankind, and its blase reluctance to try to control Carbon Dioxide emissions? Or, as Professor Milankovitch argues, is climate change the inevitable consequence of earth's orbital pattern in relation to the sun? David's conclusion, based on his own inimitable logic was, 'We'll be OK'; nonetheless, I do not intend to buy a retirement home anywhere near the coast in South East England!

Thanks were offered to Darragh Hodnett for his year's work as secretary to the society; thanks were also proffered to Mr Mighell for his many years of inspiration to generations of 'Geogos'.