Ron Cooke

Sir Ronald Urwick Cooke, FRGS DL (born 1 September 1941^[1]) is a professor of geography and geomorphology who was vice-Chancellor of the University of York from 1993 to 2002.^[2]

Career

Cooke's academic career began as a lecturer in the Department of Geography at University College London in 1961. He rose to the position of Professor in 1981 and Vice-Provost (1991–3) at the same institution.^[1]^[2] From 1993 to 2002 he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of York.^[2] Cooke was appointed chair of the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) in 2004.^[3] He was a Trustee of the National Museum of Science and Industry from 2005 to 2008.^[4]

He lives in York where he is active in city life, for instance in fund-raising for the restoration of York Minster, and in planning and restoration through the York Civic Trust.^[5] The York Civic Trust also published his monograph Why York is Special.^[6] 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 (RGS) in 1994,^[7] and was President of the RGS from 2000 to 2003.^[8] In 2002, he received the Scottish Geographical Medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.^[9]

He was knighted for services to higher education in the Queen's 2002 New Year's Honours list.^[10] In 2006, he was made Honorary Freeman of the City of York.^[8]

The Ron Cooke Hub at the Heslington East campus of the University of York was named in his honour.^{[citation needed]}

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 US, 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

^ ^a ^b Debrett's People of Today Sir Ron Cooke
^ ^a ^b ^c Professor Ron Cooke to retire as Vice-Chancellor in 2002, University of York Press Release, 1 May 2001
^ Sir Ron Cooke, JISC Chair, JISC, accessed 26 January 2010
^ Sir Ron Cooke to be trustee of the National Museum of Science and Industry, University of York Press Release, 6 June 2002
^ Substantial donation from York Civic Trust, York Minster Development Office News, 8 November 2007
^ Why York Is Special, York Civic Trust, York, accessed 14 January 2015
^ Gold Medal recipients, Royal Geographical Society, accessed 26 January 2010
^ ^a ^b Professor Sir Ronald Cooke – Honorary Freeman, York City Council, 7 March 2006
^ Scottish Geography Medal, Royal Scottish Geographical Society, accessed 26 January 2010
^ New Year honours in higher education, Donald MacLeod, guardian.co.uk, Monday 31 December 2001

Academic offices
Preceded by Berrick Saul	Vice-Chancellor, University of York 1993–2002	Succeeded by Brian Cantor

[Debretts-1] Debrett's People of Today Sir Ron Cooke

[york2001-2] Professor Ron Cooke to retire as Vice-Chancellor in 2002, University of York Press Release, 1 May 2001

[JISC-3] Sir Ron Cooke, JISC Chair, JISC, accessed 26 January 2010

[4] Sir Ron Cooke to be trustee of the National Museum of Science and Industry, University of York Press Release, 6 June 2002

[5] Substantial donation from York Civic Trust, York Minster Development Office News, 8 November 2007

[6] Why York Is Special, York Civic Trust, York, accessed 14 January 2015

[7] Gold Medal recipients, Royal Geographical Society, accessed 26 January 2010

[york2006-8] Professor Sir Ronald Cooke – Honorary Freeman, York City Council, 7 March 2006

[9] Scottish Geography Medal, Royal Scottish Geographical Society, accessed 26 January 2010

[10] New Year honours in higher education, Donald MacLeod, guardian.co.uk, Monday 31 December 2001

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v t e Presidents of the Royal Geographical Society
19th century	F. J. Robinson George Murray John Barrow William R. Hamilton George Greenough Roderick Murchison Charles Abbot William J. Hamilton William Smyth Roderick Murchison Francis Egerton Frederick Beechey Roderick Murchison Bingham Baring Roderick Murchison Henry Rawlinson Henry Frere Rutherford Alcock Thomas Baring Henry Bruce John Campbell Richard Strachey M. E. Grant Duff Clements Markham
20th century	George Goldie Leonard Darwin George Curzon Douglas Freshfield Thomas Holdich Francis Younghusband Lawrence Dundas David George Hogarth Charles Close William Goodenough Percy Cox Henry Balfour Philip Chetwode Francis Rodd Harry Lindsay James Wordie James Marshall-Cornwall Roger Nathan Raymond Priestley Dudley Stamp Gilbert Laithwaite Edmund Irving Edward Shackleton Duncan Cumming John Hunt Michael John Wise Vivian Fuchs George Bishop Roger Chorley Crispin Tickell George Jellicoe John Palmer
21st century	Ron Cooke Neil Cossons Gordon Conway Michael Palin Judith Rees Nicholas Crane Lynda Chalker Nigel Clifford

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