Sixth-former named Young Geographer of the Year

Year 12’s Vivan Paul has been named Young Geographer of the Year in his age category in a Royal Geographical Society competition.

Vivan’s winning entry on the competition theme of Understanding islands, which was created using ArcGIS StoryMaps, won him joint first place in the 16–18 (Key Stage 5) age category.

QE’s Head of Geography, Chris Butler, said: “Vivan’s achievement is a testament to his intellectual curiosity and commitment to understanding the complexities of our world. He represents a new and exciting breed of geographer at Queen Elizabeth’s School who have embraced all that the subject has to offer – from cutting-edge digital tools to critical global thinking.

“We are immensely proud of his success and the example he sets for others.”

The annual competition celebrates outstanding geographical thinking and creativity among young people. This year, more than 400 schools participated, with many holding their own preliminary heats. More than 1,200 entries were submitted to the society.

Entrants were challenged to create posters or ArcGIS StoryMaps that highlighted the unique geographies, challenges, and connections between islands worldwide, as well as the communities and ecosystems they support.

Vivan’s winning entry focused on the islands of Nauru, Haiti, the South China Sea and the Maldives. His work examined the systemic exploitation of these islands by large transnational corporations and the resulting spiral of debt and corruption that binds them together.

The project offered an analysis of how global economic forces intersect with local vulnerabilities, presenting a nuanced view of the risks these islands face at both global and local scales.

The Royal Geographical Society, which was founded in 1830, commended Vivan’s submission for its innovative approach to illustrating island connections and its insightful exploration of the socio-economic and environmental challenges confronting these regions.

Professor Joe Smith, the society’s Director, said: “I’d like to give my warmest congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who entered this year’s Young Geographer of the Year competition. Islands, including the one we live on, are uniquely affected by climate change, but they also have unique opportunities to address these challenges. The high standard of entries we received across this year’s competition gives me confidence that the next generation of geographers is already asking the right questions about the issues facing island communities and how these can teach us about the wider world.”

Vivan attended this month’s awards ceremony at the society’s South Kensington base, where he is pictured with other winners and highly commended entrants. He was presented with his certificate by the society’s Vice President for Education, Alan Parkinson.

• Vivan’s winning entry can be viewed here.