On 6th May 2026, the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) hosted a Rural Geography Research Group (RGRG) workshop to reflect on the current state and future of rural geography in teaching and research.
Supported by the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), and attended by Aimee Morse, Dan Keech and Damian Maye of CCRI, the event brought together 16 researchers from across the UK.
A key theme was the positioning of rural geography within the discipline, following a reflection on the recently published The State of Geography in UK Higher Education report from the RGS. The group agreed that there is a need to better embed rural perspectives across university courses and research agendas, ensuring they are not treated as peripheral.
Instead, there is a need to communicate more clearly why rurality matters in the context of current challenges such as climate change and food security, while avoiding overly simplistic narratives. Research communications was a key topic at the workshop, and colleagues discussed a range of ways in which research findings could be shared.
Attendees also shared their ideas for key future research areas and discussed the importance of supportive networks, such as the RGRG, for collaboration, mentoring, and opportunities for postgraduate and early career researchers.
Overall, the workshop was a positive opportunity for attendees to network, reflect on the role of the research group, and consider future collaborations. We look forward to attending future workshops with RGRG colleagues.
Further information
The Rural Geography Research Group (RGRG) of the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) draws members drawn from academia, policy and other fields interested in the development of rural geography. For more information: Rural Geography Research Group – A Research Group of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
