People & Culture

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society announces new Vice-Patron

Distinguished cosmologist and astrophysicist Lord Martin Rees, British Astronomer Royal since 1995, joins the Society in honorary position
  • Dec 06, 2019
  • 547 words
  • 3 minutes
Lord Rees Vice Patron Expand Image
Advertisement

As it celebrates its 90th anniversary, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society is ramping up the “royal.”

On Dec. 5, 2019, Lord Martin Rees, the renowned cosmologist, astrophysicist and British Astronomer Royal since 1995, accepted the honorary position of Vice-Patron with the Society from its Chief Executive Officer John Geiger and board Vice-President Wendy Cecil in London, U.K. Rees also becomes an honorary RCGS Fellow.

The news comes seven months after Princess Anne was made an Honorary Fellow of the RCGS at St. James’s Palace in London, during an audience she had granted to Geiger.

Rees, 77, is a prominent science advocate in the U.K. and the author of seven books. He is an expert on black hole formation, extragalactic radio sources and his research has countered the Steady State theory of the evolution of the universe. He was also first to theorize the uneven distribution of matter in the universe, and is particularly knowledgable about the cosmic dark ages, the period following the Big Bang when there was no light in the universe. 

Rees was knighted in 1992 in recognition of his contributions to science and was elevated to the title of Baron Rees of Ludlow in 2005.

He joins the Honourable Nellie T. Kusugak, Commissioner of Nunavut, Sir Christopher Ondaatje, and the Right Honourable John Turner, former Prime Minister, as Vice-Patrons of the Society. 

Advertisement

Are you passionate about Canadian geography?

You can support Canadian Geographic in 3 ways:

Related Content

People & Culture

Royal Canadian Geographical Society Awards 2020

Award recipients honoured in the first virtual Annual General Meeting and Fellows Show.

  • 2630 words
  • 11 minutes

People & Culture

10 highlights from the 2022 RCGS Fellows Dinner — plus photos!

Celebrating iconic collaborations, exciting partnerships, a new RCGS president and many more memorable moments from the 93rd College of Fellows Annual Dinner

  • 1828 words
  • 8 minutes

People & Culture

Kahkiihtwaam ee-pee-kiiweehtataahk: Bringing it back home again

The story of how a critically endangered Indigenous language can be saved

  • 6310 words
  • 26 minutes
Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellows 2019

People & Culture

Inside the RCGS’ star-studded 90th anniversary celebration

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s 2019 College of Fellows Annual Dinner was also a celebration of the organization’s achievements over the past nine decades — and of the best in geography and exploration

  • 1362 words
  • 6 minutes