Wednesday 6th November 2024, 10am – 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.
How to register:
- Register for the event via the RGS-IBG.
- 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.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Event program
Lunch, cakes, tea and coffee provided on the day.
| 10.00 | Registration open |
| 10.30-10.45 | Welcome |
| 10.45-11.30 | Panel 1: New Words, New Worlds revisited – Speakers: Chris Philo, David Matless (Chairs: Adam Searle, OCM & Vickie Zhang, Treasurer) |
| 11.30-11.45 | Break |
| 11.45-12.30 | Parallel sessions: 1. PGR/ECR research exchange – Participants: all session attendees (Chairs: Toni Beardmore & Liv Robinson, PG Representatives) 2. Navigating mid-career – Speakers: Leila Dawney, Harriet Hawkins, Tariq Jazeel (Chair: Sinéad O’Connor, Secretary) |
| 12.30-13.30 | Lunch |
| 13.30-14.15 | Panel 2: Social and cultural cross-subdisciplinary conversations – Speakers: Julian Brigstocke (Chair, HPGRG), Helena Pimlott-Wilson (Chair, GCYFRG) Olivia Mason (Chair, PolGRG) (Chair: Jason Luger, OCM) |
| 14.15-14.30 | Afternoon tea |
| 14.30-15.30 | World Café: The futures of social and cultural geographies – Participants: all attendees (Chair: Rebecca Collins, Chair) |
| 15.30-15.45 | Wrap-up, thanks, next steps |
For those sticking around, we’ll head to a pub after!