The final programme has now been published!
Use the Schedule tab to browse and search for session information. To check the details of your own paper, please use the Presentations tab and search functionality. Please see our Programme page for more information. Please note we have edited some session titles for length; full titles and information is available when you click through to each session.
As we make our final preparations for the conference, from Monday 7 August you will need to log in to view the conference programme. Access is via the email you used to register. If you are having any difficulties logging into the online platform, please contact us to resolve these.
You can access a downloadable grid view conference programme here, which lists sessions by date, time and room. Click through to access full session details (you will need to be logged in to view).
DOWNLOAD A GRID VIEW OF THE PROGRAMME
Registration for the conference remains open.
Please see below for responses to frequently asked questions about about attending the conference in person and online, registering for the conference, the conference programme, and planning your attendance at the conference (in-person or online). If you don't see the answer you need - please email us at ac2023@rgs.org.
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
How do I find out what is happening at the conference?
The final programme has now been published! You can find out more about the Chair's plenary lectures and other programme highlights. We'll also shortly be producing a grid view of the programme which will be available to download.
Use the Schedule tab to browse and search for session information. To check the details of your own paper, please use the Presentations tab and search functionality. Please see our Programme page for more information. Please note we have edited some session titles for length; full titles and information is available when you click through to each session.
Why can't I access the programme?
As we make our final preparations for the conference, from Monday 7 August you will need to log in to view the conference programme. Access is via the email you used to register. If you are having any difficulties logging into the online platform, please contact us to resolve these.
You can access a downloadable grid view conference programme here, which lists sessions by date, time and room. Click through to access full session details (you will need to be logged in to view).
DOWNLOAD A GRID VIEW OF THE PROGRAMME
How do I find out the dates and times for sessions?
The final programme has now been published!
Use the Schedule tab to browse and search for session information. To check the details of your own paper, please use the Presentations tab and search functionality. Please see our Programme page for more information. Please note we have edited some session titles for length; full titles and information is available when you click through to each session.
Please see our programme page for more details on planned session timings.
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. You can also filter the schedule by format, using the Tracks feature.
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The Chair's plenary lectures 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 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 and online 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 online access to watch or attend.
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 so as 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. You can do this by logging into Fourwaves and navigating to your original submission. You can now edit this, with new questions which allow you to upload additional material. This can include videos (such as pre-recorded presentations or short films); presentation slides; copies of your paper; images; and more. For further guidance please see here.
Uploaded material will be visible to registered delegates when they are logged into the conference programme.
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, expect to have 15 minutes to present, plus 5 minutes for Q&A. There is more information in our guidance for presenters.
Guidance for presenters
Do I need to submit my paper in advance?
No, you are not required to submit your paper to us in advance. Your session chair may ask to see a copy in advance of the session.
You have the option, should you wish, to upload a copy to your presentation in the online programme, and we encourage you to make the most of this opportunity. For further guidance please see here.
How should I format my paper?
We have no specific requirements about how to format your paper or presentation, other than to ensure your slides are compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint. For more information, see our guidance for presenters. You may also be interested in our advice about making presentations more accessible.
Guidance for presenters
I'm chairing a session at the conference. What do I need to know?
Please see our guidance for session Chairs.
Guidance for session Chairs
How do I access the internet while at the in-person conference?
If you are based at participating higher education institutions across the UK, Europe and a number of other countries, please sign up for Eduroam in advance of the conference and set this up on your devices. This will allow you to connect to the Imperial College London network for free. Wifi will be also available at the Society.
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
At the in-person conference
I'm attending the conference online. What do I need to know?
The online event will run through our virtual conference platform, through which all registered delegates can browse the programme, watch our livestreamed plenary sessions, join live online and hybrid sessions, view uploaded content, and catch up on recorded content. Access is via the email you used to register. If you are having any difficulties logging into the online platform, please contact us to resolve these now.
Online and hybrid sessions are hosted using Zoom. We recommend that you download and install the desktop version of Zoom prior to the conference. If you already have Zoom installed, please make sure you are using the latest version. See our guide on planning your online attendance for links to resources on using Zoom.
We are holding drop-in sessions on Zoom on the following dates (times and links will be announced shortly). Drop in to test your camera and microphone, practice sharing your screen, and ask any questions about how Zoom will run on the day.
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Friday 4 August
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Tuesday 8 August
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Monday 14 August
Attending the online conference
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.
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:
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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?
Our guide to planning your attendance at the in-person conference is now published, 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?
Yes. However, we are now at capacity for the conference creche. To be added to the waiting list please email ac2023@rgs.org, including the number of places you require and the days you need.
The conference organisers are pleased to offer registered conference delegates a crèche service for children up to 11 years old. The crèche is provided by Little Hens Childcare, an Ofsted-registered provider, whose staff are all first aid-trained, reference-checked, and CRB-checked.
The crèche will operate from 08.30 until 19.00 daily, allowing delegates to attend sessions with time for drop-off and pick-up at the start and end of each day. The crèche will be located close to the conference session rooms.
Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to delegates who have completed their registration to attend the conference.
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 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 have allocated these on an open, competitive basis, with priority for innovative sessions that make the most of hybrid opportunities and functionality.
If you submitted an individual paper to the open call for papers you were asked to indicate whether you would prefer to present in an online OR in-person session.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CONFERENCE SESSION FORMATS
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
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