Spike Shares Expedition Experiences

Spike Reid, a Design for Industry graduate and the former President of Northumbria’s Students’ Union, drove 22,000 miles through Europe, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, Siberia and Canada, following the latitude line of 50° north, to find out how climate change is affecting different communities across the globe.

Spike says: “In my lecture, I’ll be taking the audience through the seven-month long journey, starting at Cornwall’s Lizard Peninsula, travelling across Europe into Northern Asia, where we drove through Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Siberia. 

“After we crossed the Pacific Ocean to Canada, we drove up through the Rocky Mountains and remote Saskatchewan, before following the line of latitude to return to the UK.  We studied the effects of climate change on all the areas we visited and in particular how it affects the lives of primary sector workers such as farmers, fishermen and forestry workers.”

Spike and two close friends became the first ever winners of the Land Rover/Royal Geographical Society ‘Go Beyond’ Bursary in 2008.  They used the £10,000 funding to embark on the expedition and set off on the journey in a specially adapted Land Rover.  Spike says:

“I’m fascinated by travelling the world and seeing new cultures and this was a truly once in a lifetime opportunity.  I am delighted to be able to share my experiences of the journey and the results of my research with the people of the North East through my lecture The Latitude Expedition.”

Spike, originally from Plymouth in Devon has a passion for geography which was inspired by his mother – a former geography teacher.  He graduated from Northumbria in 2005 and was President of the Students’ Union for two years.  A Design for Industry graduate, he won first prize in the national Design Innovation in Plastics competition in 2003.

He is now events co-ordinator for the Royal Geographical Society, working to support and promote research, education, expeditions and fieldwork, as well as encouraging public engagement.

Spike’s lecture ‘The Latitude Expedition: An Account of a 22,000 mile circumnavigation of the world along the line of 50 degrees North’ will be held in Lecture Theatre 001 in the Newcastle Business School/Law School building on City Campus East, Northumbria University at 6 pm on Wednesday 18th November.  Admission is free.  To book your place, please contact:  pr.events@northumbria.ac.uk