Sir Ronald Urwick Cooke,
FRGS
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 ...
DL (born 1 September 1941
[Debrett's People of Today]
Sir Ron Cooke) is a Professor of
geography
Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and ...
and
geomorphology
Geomorphology (from Ancient Greek: , ', "earth"; , ', "form"; and , ', "study") is the scientific study of the origin and evolution of topographic and bathymetric features created by physical, chemical or biological processes operating at or n ...
who was
Vice-Chancellor
A chancellor is a leader of a college or university, usually either the executive or ceremonial head of the university or of a university campus within a university system.
In most Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth and former Commonwealth n ...
of the
University of York
, mottoeng = On the threshold of wisdom
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £8.0 million
, budget = £403.6 million
, chancellor = Heather Melville
, vice_chancellor = Charlie Jeffery
, students ...
from 1993 to 2002.
[Professor Ron Cooke to retire as Vice-Chancellor in 2002](_blank)
University of York Press Release, 1 May 2001
Career
Cooke's academic career began as a lecturer in the Department of Geography at
University College London
, mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £143 million (2020)
, budget = ...
in 1961: he rose to the position of Professor in 1981 and Vice-Provost (1991–3) at the same institution.
From 1993 to 2002 he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of York. Cooke was appointed chair of the Joint Information Systems Committee
Jisc is a United Kingdom not-for-profit company that provides network and IT services and digital resources in support of further and higher education institutions and research as well as not-for-profits and the public sector.
History
T ...
(JISC) in 2004.[Sir Ron Cooke, JISC Chair](_blank)
JISC, accessed 26 January 2010 He was a Trustee of the National Museum of Science and Industry
The Science Museum Group (SMG) consists of five British museums:
* The Science Museum, London, Science Museum in South Kensington, London
* The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester
* The National Railway Museum in York
* The Locomotion Mu ...
from 2005 to 2008.
He lives in York
York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
where he is active in city life, for instance in fund-raising for the restoration of York Minster
The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York, commonly known as York Minster, is the cathedral of York, North Yorkshire, England, and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. The minster is the seat of the Archbis ...
, and in planning and restoration through the York Civic Trust. The York Civic Trust
York Civic Trust is a membership organisation and a registered charity based in York, UK. Its primary function is to "preserve, protect and advise on the historic fabric of York". It is based in Fairfax House.
Foundation
York Civic Trust was fo ...
also published his monograph ''Why York is Special''. and his 2016 book ''York, Changing the Face of the City''.
Honours and awards
He was awarded the Founder's Medal 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 ...
(RGS) in 1994, and was President of the RGS from 2000 to 2003.[Professor Sir Ronald Cooke - Honorary Freeman](_blank)
York City Council, 7 March 2006 In 2002, he received the Scottish Geographical Medal
The Scottish Geographical Medal is the highest accolade of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, awarded for conspicuous merit and a performance of world-wide repute. This was awarded first in 1890 as the Gold Medal, and from 1933 as the Scotti ...
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 ...
. He was knighted
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...
for services to higher education in the Queen's 2002 New Year's Honours list.New Year honours in higher education
Donald MacLeod, guardian.co.uk, Monday 31 December 2001 In 2006, he was made Honorary Freeman of the City of York.
The Ron Cooke Hub at the Heslington East campus of the
University of York
, mottoeng = On the threshold of wisdom
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £8.0 million
, budget = £403.6 million
, chancellor = Heather Melville
, vice_chancellor = Charlie Jeffery
, students ...
was named in his honour.
Publications
Published books include:
* 1969 Trends in Geography (with J.H.Johnson)
* 1973 Geomorphology in Deserts (with A.Warren)
* 1974 Geomorphology in Environmental Management (with J.C.Doornkamp;a New Introduction,1990)
* 1976 Arroyos and Environmental Change in the American Southwest (with R.W.Reeves)
* 1980 Geology, Geomorphology and Pedology in Bahrain (contributor)
* 1982 Urban Geomorphology in Drylands (Editor and contributor)
* 1984 Geomorphological Hazards in Los Angeles
* 1993 Desert Geomorphology ( with A.Warren and A.S.Goudie)
* 1993 Crumbling Heritage? (with G.B.Gibbs)
* 2016 York- Changing The Face of the City
* 2018 The Streets of York - Four Centuries of Change ( with others)
He has published over 100 refereed articles. These relate mainly to his major research themes: desert geomorphology (chiefly in Chile, the USA, North Africa, and several Middle Eastern countries), historical geomorphology in the southwest USA, geomorphology in environmental management (especially in the Middle East), and studies of stone weathering in the UK. In addition there are published reports of committees he chaired: e.g. HEFCE 02/15 Information on Quality and Standards in Higher Education;HEFCE 99/26 Learning and Teaching- Strategy and Funding ; e.g. reports from the Joint Information Systems Committee.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooke, Ronald Urwick
British geographers
Academics of University College London
Deputy Lieutenants of North Yorkshire
Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society
Knights Bachelor
Presidents of the Royal Geographical Society
Living people
Academics of the University of York
Place of birth missing (living people)
1941 births
Vice-Chancellors of the University of York
British geomorphologists