An open laptop, coffee mug containing coffee, notebook, pen and mobile phone on a desk.

Frequently asked questions about Annual Conference

Find answers to your question or contact us via email at ac2025@rgs.org 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 ac2025@rgs.org

Please also see:

The conference theme and programme

What is the Chair's theme for this year's conference?

Whether it’s the capacity to create new places out of old, or new spatial relations where none existed before, or to create beautiful things – artworks, writing, architecture, music, dance – in places and across spaces, creativity seems almost too fundamental to focus on.

But what are the spatialities of creativity? The geographies of creative practice – how artwork sustains globalised flows of money for example, or how music reshapes buildings and bodies, or how creative writing nurtures geopolitics – are sometimes hard to theorise and bear witness to. Yet creative practice is crucial both to physical processes and to human experiences: we need to understand it.

More fundamentally, if there sometimes seems to be too little creativity in our habitually over-consuming world, how do geographers become more creative? Is 21st century Geography a truly creative discipline?

At a time when our world really needs a creative vision, to deal with new challenges in new ways, this conference theme asks for nothing less than a creative re-visioning of our discipline.

About the Chair's theme

How do I find out what's happening at the conference?

The provisional programme is now live.

How do I find out the dates and times for sessions?

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.

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 Birmingham 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.

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 proof of my registration 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.

Proof of registration to support a visa application can only be provided by the Society after the delegate's submission has been accepted for the conference programme, the full in-person registration fee has been paid, and complete contact details from a recognised institution have been provided.

Please find more information in our guide on planning your attendance at the in-person conference.

Will a crèche 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 at ac2025@rgs.org