Rita Ann Moden Gardner, (born 10 November 1955) is a British geographer and academic, specialising in

geomorphology Geomorphology () is the scientific study of the origin and evolution of topographic and bathymetric features generated by physical, chemical or biological processes operating at or near Earth's surface. Geomorphologists seek to understand wh ...

. Since January 2019, she has been Chief Executive of the

Academy of Social Sciences The Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS) is a representative body for social sciences in the United Kingdom. The academy promotes social science through its sponsorship of the Campaign for Social Science, its links with Government on a variety of m ...

. She taught at

St Catherine's College, Oxford St Catherine's College (colloquially called St Catz or Catz) is one of the Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent colleges of the University of Oxford. In 1974, it was also one of the first men's colleges to admit women. It has 528 un ...

(1978–1979),

King's College, London King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public university, public research university in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of George IV of the United Kingdom, King George IV ...

(1979–1994), and finally at

Queen Mary and Westfield College Queen Mary University of London (QMUL, or informally QM, and formerly Queen Mary and Westfield College) is a public research university in Mile End, East London, England. It is a member institution of the federal University of London. Today, ...

(1994–1996) where she was Reader in Environmental Science. From 1996 to 2018, she was Director of the

Royal Geographical Society The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), often shortened to RGS, is a learned society and professional body for geography based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical scien ...

: she was the learned society's first female director.

Honours

She was awarded the

Busk Medal The Busk Medal is an award given annually by the Royal Geographical Society The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), often shortened to RGS, is a learned society and professional body for geography based ...

by the

in 1995. In the

2003 New Year Honours The 2003 New Year's Honours List is one of the annual New Year Honours, a part of the British monarch's honours system, where 1 January is marked by naming new members of orders of chivalry and recipients of other official honours. A number of ot ...

, Gardner was appointed

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(CBE) "for services to geography". She is a

Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), often shortened to RGS, is a learned society and professional body for geography based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical scien ...

(FRGS), and a

Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences The Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) is an award granted by the Academy of Social Sciences to leading academics, policy-makers, and practitioners of the social sciences. Fellows were previously known as Academicians and used t ...

(FAcSS). In 2016, she was awarded the

Scottish Geographical Medal The Scottish Geographical Medal is the highest accolade awarded by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. It is presented for conspicuous merit and performance of world-wide repute. First awarded in 1890 as the Gold Medal, it has been known as t ...

, the highest honour of the

Royal Scottish Geographical Society The Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS) is an educational charity based in Perth, Scotland, founded in 1884. The purpose of the society is to advance the subject of geography worldwide, inspire people to learn more about the world around ...

, in recognition "of her outstandingly successful work in promoting Geography – in academic research, in schools, and in public life". She was also made an Honorary Fellow of the

(FRSGS) in 2016.

Selected works

* * *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gardner, Rita 1955 births Living people British geomorphologists British women academics British women geographers 20th-century British geographers Academics of the University of Oxford Academics of King's College London Academics of Queen Mary University of London Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences Fellows of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society