A top award from the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) has been given to The Open University’s Professor of Geography and Migration, Parvati Raghuram in recognition of her “outstanding contribution to geography”. She is among just 21 people worldwide named in their annual awards.
Award recognises migration and globalisation research
Professor Raghuram has been awarded the Society’s prestigious Murchison Award “for publications contributing to geographical understanding of mobility”. She will receive the award at a special ceremony next month and said, on receiving the award:
At a time when migration is the topic of lives lived and lost, the need to think about migration spatially could not be greater. I would like to give huge thanks to my colleagues, family and friends and The Open University in providing the fertile atmosphere to do that thinking.
Professor Raghuram’s research considers how people experience and negotiate globalisation; how these gendered workers move in sectors where the global “knowledge” is embedded such as in IT, medicine and education. Most recently her work has been in co-authoring an ongoing study about the numbers of women in the IT industry, drawing comparisons with the UK and India and looking at the impact of migration between the two countries.
‘A great honour’
Professor Kevin Hetherington, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Academic Strategy, said he was delighted:
“I have worked with Parvati for many years and know how pleased she will be. This is a great honour for her and for The Open University and is deserved recognition of her work. Parvati’s research on migration is both topical and highly important given the challenges the world currently faces around this issue.
It is noteworthy that the RGS should recognise work on one of the most important geographical questions of our time by one of the leading contributors to it.That now means that two of our professors in Geography have received this award since 2012 and shows recognition for the high standing in which Geographical research at the OU is held. “
Professor Gillian Rose received the same award in 2012 for her work in feminist geography, visual methodologies and urban aesthetics.
Nicholas Crane, President of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), said:
“Parvati’s research has transformed our understanding of how the mobility of individuals, goods and ideas is reshaping the world, and how people experience and negotiate globalisation. Recognised by her colleagues as an inspirational research leader, she provides a model of critical scholarship on issues of truly global significance. I couldn’t think of a more worthy recipient of this year’s Murchison Award.”
