skip to primary navigation skip to content
 

Annual Report 2007-8

Introduction from the Head of Department

The academic year 2007-2008 saw some major changes in the Department, in particular the appointment of myself as the new Head of Department in October 2007 for a period of five years. For the first time, the Department also appointed a Deputy Head, Professor Keith Richards; Professor of Geography and Fellow of Emmanuel College, who will serve from 2007-2010.

As Head of Department, my primary concerns over the period of my tenure will be as follows:

  • To develop a programme of Departmental research in the aftermath of the 2008 RAE result
  • To substantially build up research income
  • To consolidate new MPhil courses into the programme of graduate teaching and research
  • To plan for and actively seek funds for the refurbishment of the Departmental laboratory space
  • To plan for the replacement teaching posts which will arise from the large number of retirements occurring between 2010 and 2015
  • To revise the Departmental Strategic Plan with a view to an eventual move of the Department to the New Museums Site at a future date

September 2008 saw the approval of a new MPhil in Gender Studies and the launch of the Gender Studies Centre, which is funded by Jessica and Peter Frankopan of the Staples Trust. Having secured formal University approval, the MPhil in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies is due to start in the academic year 2009-2010. As of September 2008 twenty-two different departments across the University have committed themselves to contributing teaching to the Mphil. A new Director of the Gender Studies Centre, Dr. Jude Browne, has been appointed to lead on both the new Centre activities and MPhil course.

Another key event of September 2008 was the Alumni Weekend. In an effort to further develop its alumni relations, the Department joined up with the University Development Office and other departments for this event. The Department held its first alumni exhibition and Professor Bill Adams gave a public lecture on ‘The Political Ecology of Conservation’. Both the exhibition and the lecture were well attended and well received.

The Department’s Accounts Office has undergone major staffing changes with a new Accounts Office Manager and a new Senior Accounts Clerk. Also the Map Library was significantly reduced in size and scope in order to create further office space for research staff and students.

As in the past, the Department has also been recognised for the quality of its teaching activity. The Education Guardian University Guide 2009 gave the University of Cambridge’s Geography Degree top ranking in its league table. We hope and expect to maintain this standard in future years.

Richard Smith
Head of Department
Professor of Historical Geography and Demography and Fellow of Downing College