We are delighted to announce our plans for the 2021 RGS-IBG Annual International Conference. We are planning a conference with in-person and online options. We will confirm by early May 2021 whether the in-person elements can go ahead, in line with the latest government guidance. Given current uncertainty, we strongly recommend that delegates do NOT make any non-refundable bookings until we have made an announcement on this.
The conference will take place from Tuesday 31 August to Friday 3 September 2021. It will be chaired by Professor Uma Kothari, on the theme of Borders, borderlands and bordering.
Hear our chair of conference, Professor Uma Kothari, discuss the plans for the conference this year.
The online format this year offers new ways to participate. We are keen to take this opportunity to make the conference more inclusive and more sustainable, building on past initiatives.
We will make a decision on whether we can safely proceed with planning for in-person elements by early May 2021.
The call for sessions, papers and posters has now closed. We are now reviewing all submissions and will be in touch with all contributors once this process is complete, to confirm acceptance and advise on next steps. We expect this to be in mid-late April.
We expect the draft programme for the conference to be published in May. The theme for the Chair's plenaries is Borders, bordering and borderlands. You can also view a list of proposed organised sessions for the programme here (please note that all calls for papers have now closed).
In-person registration fees will be held at the 2020 rates. There is a new reduced rate for online-only participation. Registration will open in spring 2021 once we have made a decision as to whether any in-person elements can take place. More information is available on our registration page.
Sharing good practice
In light of the plan to take the conference online, and as part of our commitment to making the conference as inclusive and welcoming as possible, we are refreshing and updating our guidance and policies for delegates, from what makes a good session chair to what to expect at the conference and more. We are keen to gather examples of good practice from the community. Please send comments and suggestions to ac2021@rgs.org.
Code of conduct
The RGS-IBG Annual Conference is intended to be a space that allows geography, geographers and geographical careers to flourish through respectful, inclusive and equitable treatment of others sharing professional information, knowledge and ideas.
The RGS-IBG Chair of conference and organisers want to promote a positive sense of academic community by asking everyone to:
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Behave professionally
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Treat everyone equally and respectfully
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Listen to others’ views and engage constructively with them
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Set an example
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Be committed to helping each other and to be kind
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Respect the environment and the people around you
We believe that everyone (delegates and staff) has the right to be in a respectful, safe and welcoming environment at the conference.
We are dedicated to providing an inclusive conference experience for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, or language, political or other opinion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, age, religion or economic class. Discrimination, harassment, bullying and behaviours that are patronising have no place at the conference and will not be tolerated.
We ask that conference delegates practice:
Please see our full code of conduct for more information. All delegates are requested to act in accordance with the code of conduct.
Future conferences
The dates and locations for conferences in 2022 and 2023 are expected to be as follows (though are subject to change):
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Tuesday 30 August to Friday 2 September 2022, Newcastle University
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Tuesday 29 to Friday 31 August 2023, RGS-IBG, London
About the conference
The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) is the learned society and professional body for geography.
Geography, by its very nature, looks outwards and acts inclusively. As an independent, self-financing learned society and professional body, so does the RGS-IBG. We are absolutely committed to the importance of international collaboration in research, scholarship, teaching and field science and the value of sharing ideas, understanding and perspectives widely.
The annual conference is international in nature and outlook. Each year we welcome hundreds of colleagues from around the world, with a third of attendees coming from outside the UK. We are committed to continuing this open and outward-facing approach, and particularly welcome contributions by international delegates to the conference programme.