A call for papers for a proposed session at the 2015 Royal Geographical Society Annual International Conference to be held on 1-4 September at the University of Exeter (http://www.rgs.org/WhatsOn/ConferencesAndSeminars/Annual+International+Conference/Annual+international+conference.htm)
Mixed Methods, Qualitative and Feminist Geographical Information Systems/Science (GIS)
In 2002 Mei-Po Kwan proposed a reimagining of GIS as a method in feminist geography*. Since then, feminist and other critical geographers have used this reimagining to interrogate and move past GIS as a method solely connected with positivist scientific practices and visualization technologies. Qualitative and mixed methods GIS has been used alongside more familiar qualitative and quantitative research methods as a way of bringing together different ways of knowing. Researchers have used its interdisciplinary approach to tackle subjects as diverse as: creating alternative versions of neighbourhoods and community spaces; analysis of informal economies; mapping women’s worlds; and, incorporating local knowledge into natural resource management.
We invite contributions which explore the use of this flexible methodology within any topic, as well as critical empirical and theoretical interventions on the subject. We encourage papers which cover the example themes below, but also welcome other interpretations.
Some example topics: post- and non-representational mapping; incorporating non-cartographic information into GIS databases; creating new ways to think spatially; emotional and imaginative mapping; grassroots GIS practice; how GIS, spatial data and maps produce and negotiate politics and power relations; affective GIS; collisions of different and potentially contradictory ways of knowing, as well as the “feminist notion that carefully and thoughtfully incorporating multiple ways of knowing is some of the most important political work we can do”**.
*Kwan, 2002, Feminist Visualization: Re-envisioning GIS as a Method in Feminist Geographic Research, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 92 (4); 645-661.
**Cope and Elwood, 2009, ‘Conclusion: For Qualitative GIS’ in Qualitative GIS: A mixed methods approach, eds. Cope and Elwood; 171-177.
Joint-sponsored session - Geographical Information Science Research Group (GIScRG) and Gender and Feminist Geographies Research Group (GFGRG)
Convenors: Beth Brockett (Lancaster University), Chris Perkins (University of Manchester), Janet Speake (Liverpool Hope University), Rob Berry (Countryside and Community Research Institute)
The session convenors are seeking submissions of an abstract of no more than 250 words, based on a 15 minute presentation + 5 minute Q&A format (see RGS2015 information <http://www.rgs.org/WhatsOn/ConferencesAndSeminars/Annual+International+Conference/Annual+international+conference.htm>). The convenors are keen to maximise the potential for discussion between speakers and audience and the opportunity for inter-discipline discussion, therefore respondents to this call are welcome to suggest alternative presentation options (which adhere to the time limit).
Timeline:
* Deadline for submission of abstracts: 2nd February 2015
* Responses from session convenors by: 13th February 2015 (those selected are expected to cover all of their costs)
* The session convenors will communicate the RGS response as soon as informed by the organisers after the RGS 20th February deadline
Abstracts and queries should be sent to:
* Beth Brockett - [log in to unmask]
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