Medical geography in the United Kingdom: the role and function of the Institute of British Geographers Medical Geography Study Group in the 1980s and 1990s

The Medical Geography Study Group of the Institute of British Geographers is perhaps the major professional organisation for medical geographers in the UK. This paper reviews the history and operation of the Study Group and outlines its plans for future activity. The Group is comprised mainly, but by no means exclusively, of practising academic geographers and holds an active programme of conferences and specialist meetings in addition to acting as the voice of medical geographers within the broader geographic community and beyond. This paper considers the role and function of the IBG MGSG in the period since 1985 and its prospects for the future. Following a short discussion of MGSG membership and activity patterns, the paper reviews the work of the MGSG during the recent past. Attention then turns to the consideration of a framework for MGSG activity as the Group moves towards the year 2000. The paper concludes with a summary assessment of the outlook for medical geography in the United Kingdom. -from Authors