“Outstanding” Aberystwyth University academic awarded major fellowship

An Aberystwyth University academic has achieved one of the highest accolades in the geographic field after being made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Professor Michael Woods, who specialises in rural and political geography, has received the accolade in recognition of his service to geography.

The Society was formed in 1830 for “the advancement of geographical science” and today develops and supports research, public engagement and influencing public policy.

Honorary Fellowships form part of a series of the Society’s prestigious awards, which recognise pioneering achievements in geographical research, fieldwork and expeditions, teaching, policy, professional practice and public engagement.

Previous winners of its medals and awards include the naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace, explorer Freya Stark and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.

On hearing the news of his Honorary Fellowship, Professor Woods said: “The Royal Geographical Society has been ever present throughout my career. I’ve benefited so much from being part of it and I’ve been proud to contribute to its work facilitating academic exchange and promoting geography. I’m delighted to receive an Honorary Fellowship and to continue to support the Society.”

Professor Woods joined Aberystwyth University in 1996. He is Professor of Human Geography at Aberystwyth University, Director of the Rural Wales Local Policy and Innovation Partnership, and Co-Director of the Wales Institute for Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD).

He has received two prestigious European Research Council Advanced Grants, GLOBAL-RURAL (2014-19) and Rural-Spatial-Justice (2024-29), examining globalisation in rural areas and connections between rural discontent and disruptive politics respectively.

He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales. Between 2014 and 2016 he was a member of the Welsh Government's Independent Review of Student Finance and Higher Education Funding.

Professor Joe Smith, Director of the Royal Geographical Society, said: “Our Honorary Fellowships are given to mark exceptional contributions to the Society and/or geography over a sustained period of time.

“Professor Michael Woods is an outstanding scholar of rural and political geographies who has had a profound influence on social and economic policy developments in the communities in which he has lived and worked throughout his career. His Honorary Fellowship of the Society is a marker of the widespread recognition of his dedicated service.”