Lisa Newman (Undergraduate Student)
I am a third year geography student at the University of Gloucestershire. A majority of people visualise geography as 'mundane'. In fact, geography is the opposite, and I would like to campaign to change such opinions. Geography is a multifaceted, dynamic discipline encompassing the inter-dependencies existing in everyday life. A geographer will understand the world through all senses, yet for others, the world may be taken for granted, environmentally and perceptually. Geography isn't just the present; it is the preservation of historical knowledge and the environment, towards a global future. It's getting out there and actually experiencing this wider world.

Simon Renshaw (Head of Geography)
I am currently Head of Geography and Leisure and Tourism at Soar Valley College in Leicester, in my fourth year of teaching. I am also secretary of the GA's Secondary Phase Committee. I am really passionate about teaching, learning and assessment in Geography. I get a massive sense of satisfaction when I see young people enjoy and succeed in Geography. Teaching is quite simply the best job in the world!

I really do believe that Geography is the most important subject on the school curriculum. Supporting students to make sense of an ever changing, and dynamic world provides massive challenges for both learners and teachers. In a short space of time, you have both made an inspirational contribution with this campaign. I want to join the GGIP committee because I would love the chance to help further raise the profile of our essential subject.

Adam Lawson (Geography Teacher and editor of Geography at the Movies)
I strongly believe Geography is the most important subject in our schools. With innovative teaching, enthused pupils and proper allocated curriculum time Geography can become a centre piece for a KS3 school curriculum; the subjects cross curricular links are second to none. I have had experience of this at my current school, with the correct curriculum time Geography prepares young people for KS4, the new 14+ agenda and their future like no other.
In terms of the media, it is vital "geography" as a term is accepted to move the subject forward. Geographers should battle on for recognition of their subject in and out of classroom. I wish to be part of this battle using my experience of how geography can work in our schools, and therefore have its place.

Grace Coverdale (Sixth form student)
I'd quite like to help 'GGiP' because i'm working at my geography AS level at the moment, and i personally, really enjoy going out and doing the
field work for coursework.  However, people in my year, even some of my friends really take the mess out of geography, and say that all it is is an
A-level in colouring, which is really insulting.  Also, a lot of my friends don't really know that much about the world, and it was quite shocking when
people in classes coursework results came back as only 30-50 out of 100. None of them understood any of the theory behind rivers and their processes. So geography definitely needs support.

Simon Baker (Head of Geography)
Young male 27 newly appointed as Head of Geography in 400 pupil school.  Passionate about the subject and keen to promote the subject as it really has to be one of the most dynamic, interesting and relevant ones in society today. Geography is everywhere, and affects everyone all the time – you can't fail to be engaged in geography! Now it is up to us as teachers in schools to enthuse and inspire the teaching of the subject, and move away from the dull lackluster image that has tarnished the subject for too long!

David Rogers (Geography Teacher & GA Secondary Committee)
Geography is not a job, it is a passion. This is the statement by which I live by. I've developed my enthusiasm for Geography from an early age growing up in the Rhondda Valleys with huge amounts of physical and human change. Geography allowed me to understand what was going on. I believe that Geography often sells itself short, focusing too much on what we are and not enough on what we can offer. 

It is an exciting time to be a Geography Teacher. The new National Curriculum will allow us to decide what we want to teach. Geography can contribute to the many initiatives that come along such as Every Child Matters and Citizenship education.

I would like to see GGiP carrying on the outstanding work on getting Geography into the Media. But we need to develop stories to give the media. I also believe that the campaign should be ensuring that Head Teachers are aware of the importance of our subject. After all they are often the people who decide on how much Geography is taught in schools. If we can develop an enthusiasm for Geography in students early on then they are more likely to continue to follow the subject in the future.

Emma Browning (student and aspiring Geography teacher)
Early 2006 saw a big change for me I lived in Africa for 3 months helping locals in schools and assisting on environmental based research projects as a volunteer. Upon returning to the UK I have left my career of 10 years moved back home from London and gone back to college. My ultimate aim is to become a teacher within Geography I hope!

The degree course I want to do is Educational Studies and Geography.. a great combination offered at Liverpool Hope uni, however I would like the A Level in Geography and at that time had only studied the subject which was always my favourite at GCSE level. The interesting thing is no one could help me achieve the A Level in a year even tho I was willing to do the extra study work, and in fact as a mature student it was hard to get into a college to do the subject anyway. I decided to teach myself instead which has been hard work, Ive studied the first AS level in 4 months and just completed the exams today...fingers crossed.

Really I just wanted to say that my passion and enthusiasm for this subject encourages me to pursue my goal.... this subject is not viewed in the way it should be, I have traveled quite a bit and that has inspired me...... I desperately want to transfer this passion on to our future generations.

Heather Kerrigan (Geography Phd Student, Queen's Belfast)
Geography is criticised for being too vague, but surely being all-encompassing is its very selling point. We can't be pushed to the point where Geography is forced to apologise for what it is. The general public and the media do not respect Geography- it's "just about maps" and nothing else. Economists, geologists, sociologists and so on, they all have their say and are commonly seen and heard in the media, but wouldn't it be great to watch the news some evening and to hear a Geographer comment on the latest news story?

As Geographers, we have the privileged position of having a holistic viewpoint. Nothing in the world is an island; we can't talk about the economy without talking about politics, we can't talk about a natural disaster without considering social implications… all aspects of our world are intrinsically linked and as Geographers, surely we are in a great position to say something about it… if only people would listen to us.

So by raising the public profile of Geography and ensuring it gets the recognition it deserves, maybe we'll get people to listen and to understand that we don't just study Geography, we are Geography (and so are they).

Jo Norcup (Phd Student, Glasgow)
I am currently undertaking doctoral research into the making and doing of critical geography education and have a professional interest in excavating and disseminating the hidden geographies of geographers in and outwith schools and academic institutions. Since 2003 I have contributed to creating and producing freelance geography education resource writing and look to practising geography through collaborative, creative, and critically engaging ways. I am especially keen for geographers to make connections between specialisms from different geographical spaces in order to celebrate and 'own' our ideas – this means critiquing representations and a positive activism in our own geographical practises in engaging with myriad 'publics' so broader appreciations of geographers and geographies can enrich everyday understandings and embodiments of geographical processes.

I qualified as a specialist secondary school geography teacher from Goldsmiths College, University of London in 2000, and became second in Department at Eltham Green School, Eltham SE London until 2003.  I then worked for 18 months for London Boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham's Home tutoring service where I developed an holistic geography education programme for excluded students based in their everyday landscapes and spaces (paper about this presented at RGS annual Conference / Public Geographies session 2006).  I have developed resources for various organisations (such as BBC, British Standards Institute, National Geographic, CABE) and informally for local community and campaigning groups (St. Matthias Pre-School Nursery, London Action Resource Centre, Rising Tide, London). I have taught geography at all stages of the education process from pre-school to university and am currently looking to develop resources for evening courses / life-long learning.  I have also taught as a conservation educator at Jersey Zoo (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust) and London Zoo.

Tom Biebrach (Geographer and BBC Consultant)
I am an experienced teacher and passionate geographer who cares greatly for the future of our subject in schools. I work tirelessly to overcome the negative perception that our subject has developed in the media, parts of the education establishment and in the wider community. I believe that as a geography community we need to unite behind a shared belief of what constitutes good geography. As a unified body we should stand up and make ourselves heard for we are the subject that can make sense of this increasingly interconnected yet at the same time disparate world that we all share.

John Tomlinson (retired Geography teacher)
I am not sure if there is an age limit on this idea but I would be very interested in joining the campaign. My career has spanned 40 years, always as geography teacher but sometimes in the guise of Deputy Head, Senior Lecturer and OFSTED inspector. I have done the usual stints as examination marker, GA Committee member etc. Now retired from school I do some work as PGCE geography tutor for the OU and share a part-time job, with my wife as wardens of a holiday centre for people with disabilities. Geography still is a major interest and I have time to give something back for the years that it has provided me with a livelihood.