School of Geographical & Earth Sciences

A researcher from the University of Glasgow’s School of Geographical & Earth Sciences has been named as the recipient of a prestigious award from the Royal Geographical Society (RGS).
 
Professor Larissa Naylor has received the Cuthbert Peek Award in recognition of her contributions to coastal geography, geomorphology and her application of research to address the ecological and climate challenges facing society.

 
Professor Naylor, who describes herself as ‘a Doctor of Geography, a Doctor for the Planet,’ works at the interface of geomorphology, ecology and engineering, and applies this expertise to address ecological and climate change challenges facing society.
 
She is an international expert in biogeomorphology, rock coast morphodynamics, coastal erosion risk and coastal climate change adaptation, and the use of nature-based approaches including ecological enhancement of coastal engineering assets.
 
Professor Naylor helped establish the UK's Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership; informed the IPCC's 4th and 5th Assessments; and advised the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). She has shaped climate change, marine, flooding and planning policies and climate change adaptation action plans, and has served as an invited expert advisor to the World Bank's Inspection Panel. She is currently an invited expert to the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional and Authorities Governance committee.
 
She has led international working groups on Stormy Geomorphology and Rock Coast Geomorphology, and sat on climate change advisory boards including Adaptation Scotland, Climate Ready Clyde and the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership.
 
Professor Naylor said: "I am truly honoured and delighted to be the 2026 recipient of the Cuthbert Peek Award. I hope that I can inspire the next generation of geographers to continue to find ways of limiting our human impact on the environment, and in supporting society and ecosystems to live resiliently in a human-altered world."
 
Professor Joe Smith, Director of the Royal Geographical Society, said of this year's cohort of recipients: "This year's recipients are recognised for deepening our understanding of our world, its people, and the processes that shape it."
 
Previous recipients of the Cuthbert Peek award include Sir Ernest Shackleton and Professor J.W. Gregory, a former Professor of Geology at the University of Glasgow.
 
Professor Naylor joins 26 other recipients honoured by the RGS in 2026, a group that includes marine ecologist Dr Enric Sala, urban geographer Professor Loretta Lees, and explorer Felicity Aston MBE.

First published: 19 May 2026