WHAT have a leading wildlife photographer, Scotland’s leading Polar Explorer, someone who took camels to K2 and a TV presenter have in common?

They are all giving public talks for the Royal Scottish Geographical Society in Galashiels this winter. With stories from the top of the world, to the ends of the world and around the planet; from China to Harris, from oil to Shackleton and from the silk road to the east of Greenland there are stories for anyone interested in the world around them.

The season of talks gets underway at the Heriot Watt’s Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels Tuesday, September 23, at 7.30pm, when Laurie Campbell, one of Britain’s most accomplished photographers who spent several months photographing wild animals and landscapes in the Isle of Harris. At the beginning of November this is then followed up with a talk by Craig Mathieson – the RSGS’s first ever Explorer in Residence, who has journeyed to both poles, and across Greenland and is currently embarking on a project called the Polar Academy to inspire young people throughout Scotland to learn self-belief by experiencing their own local environment, and being challenged in mountain environments and for a select few, taking an expedition to the east of Greenland to carry out scientific baseline surveys. Craig will speak about his experiences in the arctic and Antarctic on October 27, as well as his plans for the Academy. Other speakers visiting Galashiels include Dave Binns speaking about a trip on camels to the mountain K2, RSGS member Fred Daniels talking about his exploits on following the silk road, historian Michael Smith marking the centenary of Ernest Shackleton’s infamous Endurance expedition with a description of the remarkable man (who was once a Director of the RSGS), and TV presenter Professor Iain Stewart – the current President of the charity, speaking about his new TV programme on the development of oil.

The Royal Scottish Geographical Society is one of Scotland’s oldest educational charities and runs more than 90 public talks a year throughout Scotland with a wide range of scientists, ecologists, climbers, adventurers, sailors, travellers and even astronauts. The local members’ group in Galashiels was established in 1994 and has been meeting regularly ever since Chief Executive, Mike Robinson said: “This is the 130th year we have been bringing these incredible talks to people across Scotland, and once again we are delighted to be hosting some of the greatest names in outdoor adventure and science communication.

“We have always been fortunate that many of the most influential and inspiring people of the past century or more have given talks for us and we are happy to be able to continue this tradition. Please come along and be inspired.” Talks are free for members of RSGS, but anyone can come along (non-members are asked to pay £8). Talks take place throughout Scotland from Dumfries to Inverness and many points in between, and run from September through to March 2015. For further information see www.rsgs.org or check for details on Facebook