Poppy Budworth, University of Manchester
Gender and Feminist Geographies Research Group (GFGRG) Roving Reporter
For the first time since 2019, the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) Annual Conference will return to London for a three-day, hybrid event. The conference runs from Wednesday 30th August to Friday 1st September, with an opening plenary on Tuesday 29th August. We at the GFGRG have written this reflective blog to help you make the most of your conference experience. Taking inspiration from Maedhbh Nic Lochlainn’s blog (a fantastic pre-conference read!), this short piece encourages attendees to take care of themselves and of others when navigating this year’s conference.
Preparing for the conference
Attending academic conferences is an important and exciting way to share and learn about what is going on in your field. The RGS-IBG comprises three full-on days of brilliant talks, thought provoking paper sessions, and fun social events. Although difficult to admit, conferences can be an emotional rollercoaster; excitement, nerves, and exhaustion weave together often leaving people feeling overwhelmed at times. This is not to say you will experience these feelings, but if you do, it is important to recognise you are not the only one!
There are things you can do to help quieten worry and reduce exhaustion whilst attending academic conferences, such as taking time out in your day to rest. Taking time out looks different for everyone, but staying well-nourished and hydrated, sitting outside or taking a walk (if the weather permits), meeting a friend for coffee (and cake!), could be some tools you adopt to stay well.
On this topic, we have collated some advice and tips about how to navigate this year’s RGS-IBG conference in a positive, and care-full way:
- Before you arrive, take a look at the conference programme
Familiarise yourself with the structure of the day, including when and where to register, lunch time, and breaks between sessions. Write down one panel, presentation, or talk that you are going to each day, as well as two or three you would like to attend if you have time, energy, and capacity. Don’t forget to keep note of any sessions you are presenting at! In addition to attending talks and presentations directly related to your interests/expertise, pick at least one session outside of your subdiscipline that intrigues or excites you. - Rest is productive…
Alongside planning which sessions you are going to, mark out time to rest during the day. This could be an hour to go for a walk, get a coffee, read a book, whatever sparks joy and makes you feel at ease. For in person attendees, the RGS-IBG has quiet space available throughout the week for decompression, as well as private space (e.g., for breastfeeding, prayer, reflection, meditation). - If you are new to the conference…
Take a look at the RGS-IBG Newcomers’ Guide, as well as Maedhbh’s blog which answers pressing conference related questions like ‘what to wear?’ and how to plan and deliver a conference presentation for the first time. If you are a Postgraduate Researcher (PGR) attending the conference, keep an eye out for news and events for PGRs by following @PGF_RGSIBG. For example, the RGS-IBG Postgraduate Forum are hosting a social event on Wednesday 30th August. - Attend a social event (if you have capacity)
In the evenings, there are social events organised by research groups, these usually take place after the last session of the day. Social events are a more relaxed way to meet and get to know your colleagues. The best way to keep up to date with social events during the RGS-IBG is to subscribe to research group listservs and follow research groups on Twitter/X (…go and follow @GFG_RGSIBG). - Take time to re-imagine what it means to ‘network’
Taking a more care-full and people-oriented approach to connecting with others makes for a kinder and more considerate conference experience. Smile and/or say hello to people on their own, congratulate speakers on their hard work and interesting reflections, let someone know they asked a thoughtful question in person, or on Zoom. With those you do connect with, remember to exchange contact details so you can keep in touch and champion each other after the conference has ended (i.e., social media handles, email addresses, LinkedIn details).
There are many ways to connect with people at conferences, lots of which can be considered small and gentle acts of kindness and solidarity. Of course, conferences create space to develop ideas and research/writing opportunities, but they are also a place to enact feminist practices of care.
GFGRG Sessions, AGM, and Celebrations
The RGS-IBG Annual Conference has been designed in a way to support people at different stages in their career, however, some sessions have been created to amplify the work of Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) and Early Career Researchers (ECRs). These targeted sessions have a positive and collegial feel, they are also an exciting opportunity to see where Geography as a discipline is growing and evolving. Come along to the GFGRG ‘new and emerging research in Gender and feminist geographies’ sessions which celebrate exciting new projects and researchers in the field of Feminist Geography. These sessions will be held in person on Friday 1st of September at 9am and in hybrid format at 11:10am.
In addition, the GFGRG will be holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 31st August (18.15-19.15) at the RGS-IBG in London (in the Sunbury Room, at the RGS-IBG). The event will be hybrid so you will be able to join either in person or online. The aim of the GFGRG AGM is to take stock of what the group has done this year, and to make plans for 2023-2024. We will be advertising positions on the committee, and we are always looking for new voices and ideas. There will be drinks and nibbles and a social event afterwards, so please come along if you are interested in meeting like-minded feminist geographers. If you would like to come to the AGM but are not attending the conference, please contact Kate (kate.maclean@ucl.ac.uk) who will provide an AGM pass and/or hybrid link to the meeting.
As well as the AGM, the GFGRG are holding an informal celebration of the life and work of Janet Townsend, where Janet will be remembered and celebrated 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. This event will be held at the Members’ Room at the Society on August 30th, 19:00 -20:00, please come along.
Exploring the RGS-IBG and the local area
Exploring the local area is a fun and exciting part of attending a conference. Here are some suggestions of things to do whilst visiting The Society:
- Enjoy local green spaces such as Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, and Albert Memorial Garden.
- Visit the Natural History Museum, and relax in the Museum Café. Admission to the Museum is FREE.
- Visit the Science Museum, where admission is also FREE.
- This LondonXLondon blog details some the best cafés near Kensington, so grab yourself a delicious coffee in your down time.
- Visit local bookshops like South Kensington Books.
- Have a wander round Portobello Market. If you visit Portobello Market, there are lots of charity shops in the area to explore and grab a bargain!
Important information for all attendees
For those attending the conference in person, sessions will be held at the Royal Geographical Society and Imperial College London. Take note that registration and name badge collection will be at the Exhibition Road entrance of the Society. A delicious vegetarian/vegan lunch is provided by the RGS-IBG, with 100% of any food waste being recycled as part of the Society’s sustainability efforts. You can learn more about how to find the Society here. In terms of getting to the conference, there are lots of ways to travel around London, which are detailed on the Transport for London website.
Those who are attending virtually will have access to livestreams of the Chair’s plenary talks and keynote lectures held in the Ondaatje Theatre, as well as online access to virtual and hybrid sessions, to any pre-uploaded content, and to session recordings. The virtual conference will be facilitated by the platform Fourwaves, and access granted through the email account you used to register. If you have any questions or concerns about attending the conference virtually, contact the RGS-IBG at ac2023@rgs.org. There is also information about accessibility at the conference, on the RGS-IBG website.
The RGS-IBG uphold a clear Code of Conduct which is designed to protect everyone attending the conference, online and in person; it is important to familiarise yourself with this code of conduct before arriving at the conference. The RGS-IBG website outlines contact details you might need during your visit. Here is a link to the FAQs which may be a useful point of reference before, and during, the conference.
Poppy Budworth (she/her) is a final year Postgraduate Researcher at The University of Manchester, undertaking doctoral research in Human Geography. Poppy’s research explores the everyday lives of young people living with an Ileostomy or Colostomy in the UK, focusing on encounters, relationships and Disabled youth identity making. Poppy is working as the GFGRG’s Roving Reporter during the RGS-IBG Annual Conference 2023.
To contact Poppy, follow her on Twitter/X: @BudworthPoppy, or email poppy.budworth@manchester.ac.uk.
