Cath White Memorial Lecture 2024

I am honoured to have been asked to give the Cath White Memorial Lecture for the GA Tyne and Wear Branch, which is based at Northumbria University or a local school at Tynemouth for most of its lectures - a place that Cath invited me to speak at several times when I was a little more mobile and active speaking at GA Branches.

Cath was involved with the University and active in so many ways and spheres. She is remembered fondly.

Here's the details of the lecture.

Title: 'Professional zest and pedagogical longevity: the importance of everyday geographies'.

Blurb:
Alan will explore the importance of everyday engagement with the discipline, and how his ongoing interest in technology, travel and photography have influenced his teaching and resource projects. Drawing on Michael Storm's notion of the importance of 'professional zest', he will explore what has kept him teaching for so long, and share some current work. This includes curriculum development, and textbook writing, so there will be plenty of interesting ideas and stories to take away, whether you are an educator, student or just curious about geography's potential for explaining our changing world.

Here's the poster advertising the event.

If you're in the area it would be lovely to see you.

If you're a teacher, please bring some students.

Cath White RIP

I was very sad to hear of the passing of Catherine White today.

It's with great sadness that I write to inform #edutwitter of the passing of Cath White, former Branch Chair @The_GA geographer extraordinare @NorthumbriaUni & superwoman! Her enthusiasm and knowledge are legendary. She is & will continue to be very much missed @cathwhite21 rip pic.twitter.com/XlXhC20Atm

— @GA Tyne & Wear (@ga_tyne) September 18, 2021

Cath was very much involved in the GA's Tyne and Wear branch, being its Chair for many years.

She was involved in Geography education at the University of Northumbria. She was an 
Senior Lecturer in Geography at University of Northumbria until recently having held other positions in the University over the years. She was closely linked with Steve Rawlinson in her work, particularly on developing approaches to fieldwork.

She presented a number of times at GA Conference, including sessions on the use of 8-way thinking for fieldwork (a favourite of mine too) and podcasting. 
I was pleased to be able to support the branch by visiting a number of times, and Cath was always a very welcoming host and involved me in a number of activities while I was there. 

She did a great deal to support geographers, particularly within the NE, and also supported the work of the RGS.

Cath was awarded an Outstanding Service Certificate at the GA Conference earlier this year.

The Society is very sad to learn of the passing of Catherine White FRGS, Visiting Scholar @NUGeog @NorthumbriaUni Geography dept. and this year's recipient of the Taylor & Francis Award. She inspired the next generation of geographers and teachers. https://t.co/PwgKBBpIVf pic.twitter.com/Zvrgkdq74n

— Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) (@RGS_IBG) September 21, 2021

Condolences to Cath's family, friends and colleagues.

References

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Catherine-White-9 

Rawlinson, Steve, White, Catherine and Kotter, Richard (2009) Living Geography: 8 ways fieldwork - evolution & evalutation. In: Geographical Association Annual Conference, 11-14 April 2009, Manchester, UK. 

https://openlibrary.org/works/OL12646179W/The_geography_of_markets

The Geography & Education Research Group of the Royal Geographical Society with the IBG (formerly the Higher Education Research Group - HERG) also involved Cath in her work.

You can see Cath presenting her ideas on transitions at the event on the page here.

You can also see a range of the guest lectures that were offered for the GA Tyne and Wear Branch here on their YouTube channel.