Royal Holloway’s influential historical geographer, Professor Felix Driver, has been awarded the Royal Geographical Society’s prestigious Royal Medal which recognises extraordinary achievement in geographical research, fieldwork, teaching, policy, and public engagement.

The Royal Medals have been approved by His Majesty the King and are among the highest honours of their kind in the world. They have been presented since the 1830s and past recipients include Sir David Attenborough, Dame Fiona Reynolds and Lindsey Hilsum.

Professor Felix Driver received the 2023 Patron’s Medal for his contributions to historical geography and to the Society.

Nigel Clifford, President of the Royal Geographical Society (with Institute of British Geographers), said: “Felix is one of the most influential human geographers of his generation.

“A Royal Medal is suitably fitting to recognise such profound achievements. His work has been a catalyst for change across museums, national bodies and cultural institutions, including the Society.

“His enormous contributions to Society projects, such as Hidden histories of exploration and Everest through the lens brought to the fore the significant involvement of those hidden from history and connected our Collections to the pressing issue of the ethics of inclusion and recognition. He is also a pioneer of new fields and approaches in the geo and environmental humanities, such as plant humanities, mobile museums, indigenous mapping, and environmental movements.”

Professor Felix Driver added: “It is an honour to receive this award and I am especially grateful to the Society for recognising the value of research in historical geography and for seeking creative and effective ways of reactivating its own remarkable Collections.”

This year, the Society’s medals and awards recognise 23 outstanding people and organisations for their notable contributions to geography.