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This July, we held our first geography symposium for teachers in partnership with the Geographical Association (GA) and the PTI.

The two-day event was an opportunity for teachers from around the country to gather, collaborate and discuss the salience of geography in our everyday lives. The symposium hosted a diverse programme of speakers, including CEO of the PTI Cat Scutt and GA Chief Executive Steve Brace.

As well as lectures on a variety of topics, the programme was supplemented with roundtable discussions and workshops, providing opportunities for teachers to reflect in small groups and discuss teaching practices, case studies and ways to engage students.

Delegates chatting in workshop at the PTI conference.
© Toby Smith/The PTI

Day one included a lecture on the power of everyday geographies, delivered by the Society's Vice President for Education Alan Parkinson, as well as climate-related education topics delivered by Professor Bill McGuire (UCL) and Dr Olivia Taylor (University of Sussex).

Person on stage of Ondaatje Theatre presenting at the PTI conference.
© Toby Smith/The PTI
  • Person on stage of Ondaatje Theatre presenting at the PTI conference.
  • Dr Olivia Taylor presenting on alternative ways to understand climate change at the PTI conference.

Day two saw Dr Charlene Rose (University of Birmingham) share her research on Caribbean food geographies and Dr Jonathan Higham (University of Liverpool) discuss air pollution sensors. Professor Iain Stewart MBE (University of Plymouth) closed the event with a keynote on the communication challenges and opportunities of modern geoscience.

The symposium proved to be a valued opportunity for educators – from different points in a geography student's journey – to share ideas. Dr Olivia Taylor commented: "One of the things that really struck me when we were talking in groups about everyday geographies was that a lot of similar themes emerged in what we were trying to do between school educators and as a university.

"Obviously, the kind of conceptualisation or the methodology is a bit more advanced at university, but we're very much trying to sow the same seeds. So, it was really good to chat to school teachers about what they were doing and get some inspiration."

A big thanks to the GA and the PTI for their valued contributions. We look forward to collaborating again in the future!

Take a look at the teacher CPD we have coming up this autumn.

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