Dear all,

With apologies for repeat posting, a reminder that the deadline to register and submit an abstract for next year's AAG meeting in New York is September 28th.

The following two sessions will be of interest to QMRG members. The first is a call for the usual 15-20 minute presentations, in the field of quantitative social geography (broadly conceived). The second is for 5 minute presentations and discussants on the subject of Teaching quantitative methods and numeracy in Geography. If you are considering attending the meeting, do contribute to and come along to either or both of these sessions. Further details about the sessions are below. Information on how to register and submit is at http://www.aag.org/cs/annualmeeting/call_for_papers.

Please contact me directly with any further enquiries ([log in to unmask]).

With best wishes, Richard

(1)

New approaches in quantitative social geography: new data, new methods, new insights

New data, new technologies and new ideas have led to a resurgence in
the theories and methods of quantitative social geography. This
session will focus on the use of hierarchical, micro-, open and
unorthodox sources of data to address questions of relevance to social
geography and policy. Contributions are invited in but are not limited
to areas of spatial analysis, open geodemographics, understanding
population dynamics, neighborhood analysis, understanding change over
time, and the affects of (urban or rural) policy on people and places.
Examples of methodological innovation and of applied data analysis are
welcome.
Early career researchers, including doctoral students, are especially but not exclusively welcome.

(2)

Teaching quantitative methods and numeracy in Geography: challenges, opportunities and new ways of learning

A concern across many social science and related disciplines has been the deskilling of students in quantitative methods, with consequences to the viability and relevance of the disciplines in policy debate, the career opportunities available to the students and, potentially, the economic competitiveness of the nations within which a loss of quantitative methods capacity is taking place.
But, it doesn't have to be this way! Geography has a long-tradition of innovation both in the research and teaching of quantitative methods. This session is an opportunity to bring people together that are teaching quantitative methods within the discipline to offer peer support and knowledge exchange.
The session invites lecturers, teachers and instructors involved in the teaching of quantitative to share examples of the challenges, frustrations, the opportunities and of best practice in supporting students' learning.
Examples of ways to "turn students on" to the importance of quantitative methods, new technologies and/or learning curricula especially are welcome, as are case studies on students' attitudes to quantitative methods in geography, and how those might be challenged and changed.
It will be an Interactive Short Paper Session, consisting of 10-14 5-minute PowerPoint presentations followed by interactive roundtable discussion.
"Old hands" and early career / postgraduate students alike are all invited as we come together and discuss ways of helping students see and to value quantitative methods at the core of the discipline: not just a specialist option of marginal interest but central to what geography is and how it is practiced.