Geography and a Geographer: A lecture in tribute to Ron Johnston

The Johnston Lecture is held annually in honour of Ron Johnston OBE FBA FAcSS, one of the most prolific British geographers of all time, and a part-time staff member with a (more than) full-time productivity at the School of Geographical Sciences for many years. Typically, we invite 'up and coming' researchers to present their work in one of the many sub-areas of geography that were of interest to Ron. This year is a bit different.

To honour the fifth anniversary of Ron's passing, and to mark the forthcoming publication of Geography and A Geographer: Essays in Memory of Ron Johnston (edited by Harris, Manley, and Mayhew), this year's lecture will focus on Ron himself, and his many contributions to the discipline. Part biography, part autobiography, part personal reflections, and part an engagement with Ron's work, Geography and A Geographer is not just a book about Ron, but a book for Ron — a collection of essays that we like to imagine he would have enjoyed reading on his regular commute between Salisbury and Bristol, and would have motivated him to send one of his regular book reviews (not always favourable) to one of the various journals that knew Ron could be relied upon to provide an informed view.

Drawing on those essays and the memories of Ron they contain, the lecture will map out areas of Ron's life, geography, and work, his key areas of study, some of his thoughts about the nature of geography as a discipline, and what we might learn today from the life and work of the discipline's preeminent geographer-grapher (not a typo).

This talk will be followed by a drinks reception.

Host or Publisher School of Geographical Sciences