Â鶹´«Ã½ academics honoured by Royal Geographical Society Published on: 12 May 2026 Two Â鶹´«Ã½ geographers have received top honours for their work. Accolades Professor Rachel Pain and Professor Anoop Nayak, in the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, have received awards from the . Professor Rachel Pain, Dean of Social Justice, has received the Victoria Medal for her world-leading research on disasters, violence, and recovery; on urban trauma, citizenship, and interpersonal violence; and on participatory action research approaches and methods. Professor Pain said: "I am delighted and humbled to receive this award, for doing a job I love with incredible students and colleagues." Anoop Nayak, Professor of Social and Cultural Geography, received the 2026 Murchison Award, which is awarded to "publications judged to have contributed most to geographical science in preceding recent years." Professor Nayak said: “I’m thrilled to receive the Murchison Award, which came as a genuine surprise to me. The prize is for publications deemed to have contributed most to geographical science in preceding recent years, it’s therefore a real accolade to have my published work in geography recognised by the Royal Geographical Society." Professor Rachel Pain Outstanding scholars Professor Pain and Professor Nayak are among 27 people recognised for their outstanding contributions to geography. Professor Joe Smith, Director of the Royal Geographical Society, said: “It is our great privilege to recognise such an outstanding group of scholars, researchers, explorers and conservationists for our 2026 medals and awards. “This year’s recipients are recognised for deepening our understanding of our world, its people, and the processes that shape it. We celebrate their contribution to geographical science and we know that such recognition inspires further achievement and sparks curiosity”. Professor Anoop Nayak Share: Latest News Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from Â鶹´«Ã½ to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Student leader drives misogyny law change A Â鶹´«Ã½ student leader has helped change the law after creating a petition to make misogyny a hate crime, which gathered over 114,000 signatures, prompting action in Parliament. published on: 12 June 2026 Freemen of Â鶹´«Ã½ see construction of new Castle Leazes The Freemen of Â鶹´«Ã½ and other key stakeholders have become an indelible part of new student accommodation at Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Castle Leazes. published on: 12 June 2026 Facts and figures
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