Geographies of Children, Youth and Families Research Group conference session sponsorship

The Geographies of Children, Youth and Families Research Group (GCYFRG) is inviting session proposals for the 2026 Annual International Conference to be sponsored by the Research Group. This means they will be badged as official GCYFRG sessions in the full programme. Please find below all the relevant details.

Please note proposals for sessions should be emailed Dr Susanne Börner (s.borner@bham.ac.uk) by 23 January 2026.

GCYFRG members and those of the geographical and related communities are invited to propose sessions. We welcome joint sessions with other research groups and encourage session convenors to advertise their sessions to relevant non-geography and non-academic audiences - guest passes are available for this purpose.

GCYFRG can sponsor 12 sessions and proposals should relate to our general interest in the geographies of children, young people and families, ideally linking this to the 2026 conference theme (although this is not absolutely necessary).

• Location: London at the Society and Imperial College London, and online
• Dates: from Tuesday 1 to Friday 4 September 2026.
• Conference theme: Geographies of inequalities: toward just places, chaired by Professor Peter Hopkins (Newcastle University, UK).

Session proposals will be reviewed by members of the GCYFRG committee, and you will be informed if your session will be sponsored by GCYFRG. You will then be able to circulate a call for papers for your session.

To propose a session to be sponsored by GCYFRG, or for questions about GCYFRG sponsored sessions, please contact Dr Susanne Börner, GCYFRG Conference Officer at s.borner@bham.ac.uk

Format: Sessions may take the form of presented papers, panels, discussions or workshops, worldcafes, roundtables, collaborative sessions, speed networking, digital shorts etc.

• Choosing your conference session format

Innovative formats are encouraged!

Submitting a proposal

Session proposals for GCYFRG sponsorship should be submitted by 23 January 2026 and should comprise:

1. Title of session, with Name and Contact Details for Session Convenors
2. Name of Co-sponsoring groups, if applicable
3. Abstract, outlining scope of session – max of 300 words
4. Number of session time-slots that are sought - usually a max of two timeslots per session, with each timeslot comprising 100 minutes
5. Indication, if known, of preferred organisation of session, e.g. four 20-minute presentations plus 20-minute discussion, or five 15-minute presentations with five-minute questions for each, etc.
6. Indication for the desired in-person or online format. We will have very limited capacity for some hybrid live sessions
7. A statement about how your session will consider issues of sustainability, inclusivity and accessibility. Find more inspiration on how to make your session more accessible.

All sessions will be reviewed by the AC2026 Conference Planning Committee before being accepted for the conference. Conference sessions may be in-person or online.

We will also have very limited capacity for some hybrid live sessions. Session organisers wishing to request a hybrid format will be asked to bid for this in a competitive process.

Timeline

• 23 January: session proposal deadline for GCYFRG sponsorship
• 20 February: deadline for paper submissions to sponsored sessions.
• 6 March: Society's submission deadline for session proposals. Session proposals should be submitted through the online programme submissions portal.
• End of April: Notification of session acceptance
• 1-4 September: Annual International Conference in London

If you have any questions please do get in touch with Susanne Börner (GCYFRG Conference Officer – s.borner@bham.ac.uk).

Deadline: 23 January 2026.