Social and Cultural Geography Research Group 50th Anniversary Celebration

Wednesday 6th November 2024, 10.30am – 4pm,
University of Nottingham.

2024 marks 50 years since the formation of what is now the RGS-IBG’s Social and Cultural Geography Research Group (SCGRG), which began its life as the Social Geography Study Group of the Institute of British Geographers. To mark this milestone in our sub-discipline and reflect on its evolution over five decades, the SCGRG Committee invites you to join us for a day of discussion, debate and celebration at the University of Nottingham.

Across the day, we will explore the conditions, promises and futures of social and cultural geographies today. As lures for this collective thinking, we’ll hold sessions including a reflective discussion panel with Professor Chris Philo revisiting the 1991 self-published study group compilation New Words, New Worlds, and a panel exploring cross-subdisciplinary connections with representatives from a range of RGS-IBG study groups, including PolGRG. Focussed on exchange and mutual support, we’ll hold parallel sessions for early-career and mid-career scholars to share experiences of navigating the contemporary academy, and if there’s interest, make a space available to exhibit your creative and non-traditional research outputs (BYO!).

We ask those on longer-term contracts to contribute a £15 registration fee towards the cost of catering. The event is free for postgraduate students and precariously employed early career scholars; use the code ‘SCRG50‘ during checkout on the RGS-IBG website.

A number of postgraduate travel bursaries of up to £100 will be available to postgraduate students; application is also below. Please note we can only offer contributions to travel costs, and cannot cover costs associated with accommodation. Applications have been extended to Friday October 4th, with outcomes communicated late the following week. 

  1. Register for the event via the RGS-IBG.
  2. Fill out an additional form for event planning purposes.

Registration closes on Wednesday 23 October, or earlier if venue capacity is reached.

Please note that this will be an in-person event, but we plan to host a set of online events to mark SCGRG’s anniversary throughout 2025. For more information, contact SCGRG Chair, Rebecca Collins.

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Event program

Lunch, cakes, tea and coffee provided on the day.

10.00 Registration open
10.30-10.45Welcome
10.45-11.30Panel 1: New Words, New Worlds revisited
Speakers: Jane M Jacobs, David Matless, Chris Philo
(Chairs: Adam Searle, OCM & Vickie Zhang, Treasurer)
11.30-11.45Break
11.45-12.30Parallel sessions:
1. PGR/ECR research exchange

Participants: all session attendees
(Chairs: Toni Beardmore & Liv Robinson, PG Representatives)
2. Navigating mid-career
Speakers: Ben Anderson, Leila Dawney, Tariq Jazeel
(Chair: Sinéad O’Connor, Secretary)
12.30-13.30Lunch
13.30-14.15Panel 2: Social and cultural cross-subdisciplinary conversations
Speakers: Julian Brigstocke (HPGRG), Stephen Daniels, Nigel De Noronha (RACE), Sarah Mills (PolGRG), Helena Pimlott-Wilson (GCYFRG)
(Chair: Jason Luger, OCM)
14.15-14.30Afternoon tea
14.30-15.30World Café: The futures of social and cultural geographies
Participants: all attendees
(Chair: Rebecca Collins, Chair)
15.30-15.45Wrap-up, thanks, next steps

Upcoming events: AGM and 50th Anniversary Celebration

The SCGRG has two upcoming events that they would like to share. We are especially excited about a special event to celebrate and reflect on 50 years of the study group, to which all members past, present and future are warmly invited:

50th Anniversary Celebration

Wednesday 6th November 2024, 10am-4.30pm
University of Nottingham

2024 marks 50 years since the formation of what is now the Social and Cultural Geography Research Group (SCGRG), beginning life as the Social Geography Study Group of the Institute of British Geographers. To mark this milestone in our sub-discipline and reflect on its evolution over five decades, the SCGRG Committee warmly invites you to join us for a day of discussion, debate and celebration in Nottingham. All are welcome!

More details and sign up here: https://forms.gle/hExKnWdVn76uHtZG9

Annual General Meeting

Wednesday 4th September, 2pm-3pm
Online – MS Teams (register for link)

The group’s AGM will take place online the Wednesday after the RGS-IBG Annual Conference. All welcome! The AGM is an opportunity to hear about what the research group has been up to this year, as well as contribute to plans for 2024-25, including events to celebrate our 50th anniversary.

We also have two committee positions to fill: Digital Communications Officer and Memberships Officer. For more information, or to nominate for a position, contact SCGRG Chair, Rebecca Collins rebecca.collins@chester.ac.uk.

Register here: https://forms.gle/FkebRbQH2aewzWR19