Frequently asked questions
Find answers to your question or contact us for guidance.
This page answers some of our most frequently asked questions about the conference
Don't see the answer you need? Contact us via email at ac2024@rgs.org.
The conference theme and programme
What is the chair's theme for this year's conference?
The chair’s theme will explore mapping in all its forms, in a world that is saturated with maps, from historical cartography to the newest technologies and practices of map-making.
Maps trace invasions, financial crises, pandemics and environmental disasters, and our responses to them. They plot and coordinate surveillance, and counter-plot evasion and resistance. They chart jet streams, oceanic oscillations and ozone holes, heatwaves, droughts, and drizzles. Maps map territory and sovereignty, but also evidence indigenous land claims and historical landscapes of meaning.
Find out more about the chair's theme
How do I find out what's happening at the conference?
The provisional programme has now been published! You can find out more about the Chair's plenary conversations and other programme highlights. We'll also shortly be producing a grid view of the programme which will be available to download.
How do I find out the dates and times for sessions?
The provisional programme has now been published!
Please see our programme page for more details on conference dates and session timings, as well as the structure of the conference day.
How do I tell whether a session is in-person, hybrid, or online?
Sessions are in-person, hybrid, or fully remote. The format of the session is displayed alongside the location in the programme.
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The Chair's plenary conversations and the majority of the journal-sponsored sessions will be taking place in the Ondaatje Theatre at the Society in London. Join us there in-person, or via the online platform. These will be also available to watch on-demand after the event.
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Hybrid sessions will have an in-person room at the Society, and a Zoom link for any remote presenters or other delegates to join.
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Online-only sessions will have a Zoom link to join.
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In-person-only sessions will take place in a room at Imperial College London with no option to present or participate online.
Participating in the conference
I'm attending the conference in person. How do I join an online-only session?
We will have two ways for in-person attendees to join/participate in online-only sessions:
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In our Members' Room (which has small pod rooms with tables and chairs), individuals will be able to sit with headphones and laptop to join an online session, using the Society’s Wi-Fi. If you need to present in or actively participate in an online session, we recommend this option.
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We will also have some ‘viewing rooms’ available, where people can gather to listen to/watch an online session from their own laptop. Please ask at the conference helpdesk for more information.
Spaces will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. You are also welcome to find a quiet space on the Imperial College London campus and use Eduroam to connect to their network. Remember to use headphones to avoid disturbing other delegates.
Can I upload additional/asynchronous content to presentations in the online programme?
Yes. This year session organisers and presenters will be able to upload additional content to presentations in the online programme (such as pre-recorded presentations, posters, papers, slides, and so on), to be viewed before, during, and after the conference. We encourage you to make the most of this capacity.
You can now start to add material to your presentation in the online programme. Follow our detailed instructions to upload materials in advance of the conference, including slides, papers (as word or pdf documents), images, and pre-recorded video presentations.
Uploaded material will be visible to registered delegates when they are logged into the conference programme.
How many papers can I present at the conference?
Delegates will be limited to ONE paper presentation and ONE panel/workshop contribution, OR, TWO panel/workshop contributions. The role of discussant is included as a panel/workshop contribution.
A single paper may only be presented once at the conference. Please see our guidance for presenters.
How long will I have to present?
Check with your session organiser about how long you will have to present. If you are in an open session (i.e. you submitted your paper via the open call), expect to have 15 minutes to present, plus 5 minutes for Q&A. There is more information in our guidance for presenters.
Do I need to submit my paper in advance?
No, you are not required to submit your paper to the conference organisers in advance. Your session chair or discussants may ask to see a copy in advance of the session; contact them to confirm this.
You have the option, should you wish, to upload a copy of your presentation in the online programme, and we encourage you to make the most of this opportunity. For further guidance please see here.
I'm chairing a session at the conference. What do I need to know?
See our detailed guidance for session chairs.
Registering for the conference
How do I register for the conference?
Registration for the conference is now open. You can find out more about registration, including fee categories, and prices, on our registration page.
By registering for the conference, you agree to abide by the conference's code of conduct.
What rates are available for registration? Can I attend just the virtual sessions?
The conference will take place in-person in London and online. To reflect this, there are two sets of registration fees:
- In-person, which include access to all in-person sessions for the day(s) you select, and to all virtual content.
- Virtual only, which allow access to all online and some hybrid sessions, asynchronous content and session recordings
Please see our registration page for more details.
Do I need to register for the conference before submitting an abstract?
No, you do not need to register for the conference before you can submit a proposal for the programme. However, if your contribution is accepted, you must then register and pay the appropriate fee to attend. Both online-only and in-person rates are available. In-person registration also includes access to all online elements.
Where do I collect my name badge when I arrive?
Registration and name badge collection will be at the Exhibition Road entrance of the Society.
Attending the conference
Where can I find out more about accommodation and travel to the conference?
Please see our guide to planning your attendance at the in-person conference, as part of our wider guide on planning your attendance.
Can I request a letter of invitation to support my visa application?
Yes. All conference delegates who need a visa to enter the United Kingdom are advised to arrange this as early as possible.
Visa support letters may only be requested from the Society once a delegate has had a submission accepted for the conference programme, paid the in-person registration fee in full, and provided full contact details from a recognised institution. There is more information in our guide on planning your attendance at the in-person conference.
Will a creche be offered at the conference this year?
The conference organisers are pleased to offer registered conference delegates a crèche service for children of all ages. The crèche is provided by Little Hens Childcare, an Ofsted-registered provider, whose staff are all first aid-trained, reference-checked, and CRB-checked. There is more information in our guide on planning your attendance at the in-person conference. Places are limited so please enquire as early as possible if you would like to book a place for your child.
Where can I find out more about accessibility at the conference?
We are committed to making the conference as accessible as we can to all delegates, in person and online. Please see our guide on accessibility at the conference. If you have questions or specific requests please do contact us.
Chair's theme
The Chair's theme for the 2023 Annual International Conference is Climate changed geographies.
Programme
The conference programme is available to browse.
Registration
Registration will open in spring 2023.
Conference venue
The 2022 RGS-IBG Annual International Conference will be held at Newcastle University.
Making the most of the online platform
Find out how to navigate the online platform and upload content.
At the in-person conference
What to expect at the in-person conference
At the virtual conference
What to expect of the virtual elements at this year's conference.
How we run the conference
Learn more about the range of initiatives undertaken both by us as conference organisers and by our Research Groups.