Submissions for the conference programme will open in early January 2023. For more information please see the conference timeline.
Please see below for responses to frequently asked questions about submissions for the conference programme. We will add additional information here in due course about registering for the conference, the conference programme, and planning your attendance at the conference (in-person or online).
Please also see:
What is the chair's theme for this year's conference?
The chair's theme for 2023 is Climate changed geographies.
With the theme Climate changed geographies the RGS-IBG 2023 conference invites a conversation about how climate change is, and is not, changing our discipline – our ways of knowing, exploring, understanding and acting geographically – and with what consequences. It also opens up debates about the kinds of geographies – urban, political, social, cultural, economic, regional, glacial, fluvial and more – that are and are not being changed by climate change.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CHAIR'S THEME
What is the deadline for proposing a session, paper or poster for the conference programme?
The final deadline for all submissions is Friday 17 March 2023. Please see our guidance for session organisers and for individual presenters.
Read our call for sessions, papers and posters
What formats are supported at the conference?
Sessions can be in-person, online, or hybrid. We have plenty of capacity for online and in-person formats, but will have very limited capacity for live hybrid sessions at this year's event. In total we expect to have only 40-50 hybrid session timeslots (out of an expected 350-400 total sessions).
Consequently, we will be allocating these on an open, competitive basis, with priority for innovative sessions that make the most of hybrid opportunities and functionality. We will be asking you to make the case for a hybrid format at the time of the submission of the session.
If you are submitting an individual paper to the open call for papers you will be asked to indicate whether you would prefer to present in an online OR in-person session.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CONFERENCE SESSION FORMATS
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 and to build this into your proposal for the programme.
We encourage session organisers from the outset to think about not just the theme and speakers, but also the kind of discussions you want to hold and the opportunities to use pre (and post)-uploaded content.
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.
Read the guidance for presenters
How can I apply for Research Group sponsorship for my session?
Several of the Research Groups are circulating calls for proposals for session sponsorship. You can view a list of these with deadlines.
Session sponsorship consists of branding the session in the conference programme with the Research Group's name (making it easier to find), and the opportunity to promote the session through the Research Groups communication networks.
Find out more about Research Group session sponsorship
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.
Find out more about registration for the conference
How do I find out about sessions being planned for the conference?
Please see our list of advertised calls for papers (coming shortly). Please note that each call for contributions has its own deadline (generally much earlier than the main deadline of Friday 17 March 2023), and own process for submitting a paper proposal. Please read the call carefully and direct any questions to the session organisers.
Browse advertised calls for papers (coming shortly)
When will you announce the dates and times for sessions?
We expect to publish a provisional programme for the conference in mid-late May 2023. Please see our programme page for more details on planned session timings.
How do I register for the conference?
Registration for the conference will open in spring 2023. 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:
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In-person, which include access to all in-person sessions for the day(s) you select, and to all online content.
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Online only, which allow access to all online and hybrid sessions, asynchronous content and session recordings
Please see our registration page for more details
Where can I find out more about accommodation and travel to the conference?
We will publish a guide to planning your attendance at the in-person conference in early 2023, 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 (coming shortly).
Will a creche be offered at the conference this year?
Yes. We 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 (coming shortly).
Places are limited so please enquire as early as possible if you would like to book a place for your child. Registration will open in April 2023.
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.