We are looking forward to welcoming you to the Annual Conference. This page provides more information about arrangements for those attending in-person. If you are attending the conference online, please see our guidance on planning to attend the virtual sessions and event.
You can find out more about the exciting array of sessions at the conference in our online programme, including details of the programme highlights.
At the following links you can also find out more about:
Information about getting to London, including travel, accommodation, and letters of invitation for visas, can be found in our guide to planning your attendance.
Information about health and safety at the conference, including COVID-safer protocols, can be found below.
The conference venue
This year the conference will be hosted by the RGS-IBG and Imperial College London. Sessions will take place at the RGS-IBG, and in the Sir Alexander Fleming, Skempton, Sherfield, and Electrical Engineering buildings at Imperial College London.
When you arrive: the Registration Desk
When you arrive at the conference, please come to the Registration Desk to collect your name badge, lanyard and lunch tickets. You will require this to access all conference sessions and to get tea/coffee and lunch.
The Registration Desk and conference helpdesk are located at the Exhibition Road entrance of the RGS-IBG
The Registration Desk will be open:
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10.00-20.00 on Tuesday 29 August,
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7.15-20.00 on Wednesday 30 August
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08.00-20.00 on Thursday 31 August
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08.00-15.00 on Friday 1 September
Staff and conference volunteers can be identified by their red or blue lanyards. Please do not hesitate to ask them for assistance at any time.
Wi-Fi
At the RGS-IBG, there is Wifi available on the 'RGS-IBG Guest' network - please see the signs at the conference helpdesk for the password.
If your institution grants you Eduroam access, you can use this to connect to the Wi-Fi from anywhere on the Imperial College London campus. We strongly recommend you set this up before you arrive.
If you do not have access, please let us know on reception and we will get you set up.
Joining online only sessions at the in-person conference
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.
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If chairs or presenters are attending in person that day and need to participate in an online session, we recommend this route.
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We will have headsets available to borrow from the conference helpdesk, though we also encourage delegates to bring their own. Delegates must use headsets/headphones for joining sessions, to avoid disrupting other delegates.
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This will be first come, first served – delegates can just turn up to the Members' Room to take a space
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If there are no spaces available and you urgently need to join a session as chair or presenter, please come and see us at the conference helpdesk (if possible at least 20 minutes ahead of the session start time)
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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.
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We don’t recommend this route for chairs or presenters
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We’ll have some desktop speakers available to borrow from the conference helpdesk
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To request a viewing room please come to the conference helpdesk at least 20 minutes before the start of a session. They will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Certificates of attendance
Certificates of attendance can be requested here. These will be provided in digital copy after the conference.
Request your certificate of attendance
Catering at the conference
Tea and coffee
Tea and coffee will be available for registered delegates during the morning and afternoon breaks, and served at the following locations:
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RGS-IBG Main Hall and Marquee
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Sir Alexander Fleming Building Foyer
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SALC 5 Foyer, Sherfield Building
Water
As part of our sustainability policies we are again not providing single use bottled water. Water will be available at the tea and coffee serving points and at lunchtime. There is a water fountain in the Ambulatory at the Society; there will also be refill points in the RGS-IBG building. Information about water refilling stations at Imperial College London can be found here. We encourage all delegates to bring and use refillable water bottles.
Lunch
Lunch is included in the in-person delegate fee. This will be served at the RGS-IBG in the Main Hall and Marquee from 12.30-14.00. Lunch is a grab and go box, which you exchange for one of the lunch tickets in your delegate badge.
To help cut down on food waste (by limiting the number of uncollected special diet boxes), all lunch menu options will be either vegetarian or vegan. If you have indicated additional dietary requirements during conference registration, the catering team will let you know which option is suitable each day, or where you can collect your named special diet lunch box.
Receptions and socials
Unless specifically marked 'invitation only', delegates are invited to join any advertised drinks receptions. We will ensure that non-alcoholic options are available at all receptions and encourage delegates to be responsible with their alcohol consumption. A list of planned receptions is below.
Tuesday
Wednesday
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TreeYoga, wellbeing and networking session. TBC, 13.10
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Development Geographies Research Group lunchtime social. TBC, 13.10
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Geographies of Health and Wellbeing evening reception. TBC, 18.30
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Hoyle Lecture Reception, To follow the Brian Hoyle lecture. TBC, 18.30 Invitation only
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Reception for Clive Barnett. To follow the Clive Barnett memorial sessions. TBC, 18.30
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Reception to follow Creighton Connolly Author meets critics TBC, 18.30
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Geographies of Children, Youth and Families Research Group Social. Offsite - Comptoir Libanais, 19.00. The event is intended for anyone working in the field of Geographies of children, youth and families. We look forward to seeing you and to another lovely evening with the GCYFRG community. To join, please sign up by 31 July here.
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Celebration of Janet Townsend's life and work. Please join us in the Members Room at the Society for an informal celebration of the life and work of Janet Townsend. We will gather to remember and celebrate her as a feminist geographer, a scholar, mentor, and much valued friend. There will be a few opening words of welcome from colleagues who knew her well, and the chance to share your memories of Janet with others. Members Room, 19.00. IN-PERSON ONLY
Thursday
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Social and Cultural Geography Research Group lunchtime social, TBC, 13.10
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Animal Geographies Working Group Networking Lunch, TBC, 13.10
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Antipode reception, to follow the Antipode lecture. TBC, 18.30
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JGHE Lecture reception, to follow the JGHE lecture. TBC, 18.30
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Book Launch: Landscapes of Hate: Tracing Spaces, Relations and Responses. TBC, 18.30
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The Pulse of the Earth: Political Geology in Java Book Launch. TBC, 18.30
Friday
Recycling
We are committed to reducing the resources used at the conference by sourcing supplies and food locally where possible, using recycled and recyclable materials, and reducing, reusing and recycling conference materials to every extent possible. We urge all delegates to recycle discarded materials. Please do not contaminate the recycling by mixing food with recyclable materials!
And at the end of the conference please drop off your lanyard at Registration, we will wash them and use them again!
Quiet spaces
Please ask at the conference helpdesk if you would like a private space for prayer, for breastfeeding/baby changing, or for other reasons.
Health and safety at the conference
Only registered attendees will be allowed into the session rooms and social spaces at the conference. The Society retains the right to refuse entry and/or to ask anyone to leave. We ask you to wear your lanyard and name badge at all times.
In case of a medical incident, please contact the Registration Desk. Members of the RGS-IBG team are First Aid trained. In the case of an emergency please contact the emergency services by calling 999.
Please be aware of emergency fire exits and should alarms sounds, follow the evacuation policy.
The current threat level in the UK is Substantial meaning a terrorist attack is likely. Please remain vigilant and report any unattended or suspicious items to Imperial College London and RGS-IBG event staff or the conference organisers.
COVID-19
You should not come to the conference if you have been asked to self-isolate or if you, or someone you live with, has symptoms. We will not admit attendees if they present with symptoms. We encourage all delegates to test themselves before coming to the conference.
We ask all attendees to respect those who choose to wear masks. We will have additional masks at the conference helpdesk for those who wish to wear one.