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Geographies of Children, Youth and Families Research Group

Deadline: Thursday 23 January.

GCYFRG members and those of the geographical and related communities are invited to propose sessions. We welcome joint sessions with other research groups and encourage session convenors to advertise their sessions to relevant non-geography and non-academic audiences - guest passes are available for this purpose.

GCYFRG can sponsor 12 sessions and proposals should relate to our general interest in the geographies of children, young people and families, ideally linking this to the 2025 conference theme (although this is not absolutely necessary).

Session proposals will be reviewed by members of the GCYFRG committee, and you will be informed if your session will be sponsored by GCYFRG. You will then be able to circulate a call for papers for your session.

Format: sessions may take the form of presented papers, panels, discussions or workshops, worldcafes, roundtables, collaborative sessions, speed networking, digital shorts etc. For details, please see our conference session formats guidance. Innovative formats are encouraged!

What to include in the session proposal

Session proposals should comprise:

  1. Title of session, with Name and Contact Details for Session Convenors.
  2. Name of Co-sponsoring groups, if applicable.
  3. Abstract, outlining scope of session (max. 300 words).
  4. Number of session time-slots that are sought (usually a max. of 2 timeslots per session, with each timeslot comprising 100 minutes).
  5. Indication, if known, of preferred organisation of session, e.g. 4 x 20-min presentation, plus 20-min discussion or 5 x 15-min presentation, with 5-min question for each, etc.
  6. Indication for the desired in-person or online format. We will have very limited capacity for some hybrid live sessions.
  7. A statement about how your session will consider issues of sustainability, inclusivity and accessibility. Find out more on how to make your session accessible.

Timeline

  • 23 January: session proposal deadline for GCYFRG sponsorship
  • 21 February: deadline for paper submissions to sponsored sessions.
  • 7 March: RGS-IBG submission deadline for session proposals. Session proposals should be submitted through the online programme submissions portal.
  • 21 April: notification of session acceptance
  • 26-29 August: RGS-IBG Annual International Conference in Birmingham.

To propose a session to be sponsored by GCYFRG, or for questions about GCYFRG sponsored sessions, please contact Dr Susanne Börner, GCYFRG Conference Officer at s.borner@bham.ac.uk