PEOPLE
The Norwegian town that came back from the dead
Dec 30, 2019
Written by
Oliver Lowenstein
Vardø, Norway’s most northeasterly town, was once on the verge of dying out as its inhabitants sought livelihoods elsewhere. But a passionate local is hoping modern arts and traditional crafts might be key to turning its fortunes around
Shades of green: how Guyana is balancing ecotourism with oil production
Dec 28, 2019
Written by
Nick Middleton
Guyana intends to become a low-carbon, ‘green state’, with eco-tourism a major feature. But the country is also poised to become the Western Hemisphere’s next big oil producer. Nick Middleton investigates the possible contradictions
Turkey’s legacy of civilisation is a blueprint for the future
Dec 27, 2019
Written by
Charles Stevens
Ani is a Middle Age city of remarkable historical importance, one in urgent need of preservation and protection
The Gross National Happiness of Bhutan
Dec 22, 2019
Written by
Stuart Butler
In the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, traditional Buddhist culture has helped shape government policies on the environment and the search for human happiness. Should we all follow suit?
How New Zealand is redefining its relationship with Captain Cook
Dec 21, 2019
Written by
Chris Fitch
October 2019 marked 250 years since Captain James Cook first set foot in New Zealand, kickstarting a wave of British colonisation on the archipelago. The anniversary has been seen as an opportunity to re-evaluate the country’s relationship with a man…
A Portrait of Baul: Keeping ancient traditions alive
Dec 20, 2019
Written by
John Baker
The Bauls of Bengal are an order of wandering folk singers that have kept their philosophies alive for centuries. But modern demands threaten to overtake their simple, itinerant lifestyles. Now, an audio-visual record is being taken to keep their vocal…
Pickles, packet noodles and plenty of leeches
Dec 20, 2019
Written by
Matthew Jones and Rosalie Wright
Matthew Jones and Rosalie Wright were delighted when they unearthed details of an expedition to a remote corner of Borneo’s rainforest in the 1950s. Forming their ideas at the RGS-IBG Explore weekend, they spent almost a year planning on how…
Don’t bottle it: why aluminium cans may be the answer to the world’s plastic problem
Dec 18, 2019
Written by
Abigail Spink
Recent claims suggest that plastic recycling does little to tackle the issue of plastic pollution. Instead, the infinitely recyclable nature of aluminium beverage cans could offer a promising packaging alternative, highlighting fundamental flaws in the life cycle of single-use plastic
A global ‘toilet revolution’ is underway – but it’s polluting water and ignoring the urban poor
Dec 17, 2019
Written by
Deljana Iossifova, Purva Dewoolk, Youcao Renar
Nearly seven hundred million people around the world lack access to proper toilets. While efforts are underway to change this, not all schemes are equal
3D printing is helping museums repatriate and decolonise
Dec 12, 2019
Written by
Myrsini Samaroudi, Karina Rodriguez Echavarria
Can 3D printing play a role in enabling museums to ‘decolonise’ and return artefacts to their countries of origin? These researchers think so
Why not logging on is bad for the world
Dec 06, 2019
Written by
Katie Burton
Half the world’s population currently has access to the internet, but with its growth now slowing, there could be significant implications for global development
How would a four-day week affect the environment?
Dec 05, 2019
Written by
Katie Burton
The four-day week is often held as being of benefit to human well-being, but what would working fewer hours really mean for the environment?
Victorien Erussard: co-leader and president of the Energy Observer expedition
Dec 04, 2019
Written by
as told to Katie Burton
Victorien Erussard is the co-leader and president of the Energy Observer expedition, the first ship to sail around the world powered only by hydrogen, wind and solar power. The expedition will take six years to complete and the crew recently completed…
Inside the Terror - Life on board Sir John Franklin’s lost ships
Nov 27, 2019
Written by
Joseph Frey
Joseph Frey, governor of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, discusses the latest findings from the team surveying the lost ships of Sir John Franklin
Louise Callaghan is the Middle East correspondent for the Sunday Times and author of Father of Lions, the true story of Abu Laith, his family and team, who ran a zoo in Mosul during the Isis occupation, risking their lives…
The future of oil states: can the Middle East go green?
Nov 19, 2019
Written by
Mark Rowe
The concept of renewable energy in the Middle East sounds incongruous, for this is a region that is home to more than half of the world’s crude oil and more than a third of its natural gas reserves. However, local…
The Silk Road: An object lesson
Nov 18, 2019
Written by
Geographical
In an epic new book from traveller and curator Susan Whitfield, 80 leading scholars detail the history of the fabled Silk Road is through its people, cultures and landscapes
Conservation initiatives spread ‘like a disease’
Nov 15, 2019
Written by
Katie Burton
Massive scientific investment has now identified the primary threats to biodiversity, but comparably little research has examined how and why some conservation initiatives spread while others falter
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