Reinvigorating Social Geography: the politics and praxis of Social and Cultural Geography in the UK

 

A two-day conference of the Social and Cultural Geography Research Group of the RGS-IBG, to be held at Jury’s Inn, Brighton

 

University of Brighton

30-31 January 2009

 

The main aim of the conference is to provide a supportive, collegiate and stimulating environment to explore ‘what’ and ‘where’ are the contemporary social geographies within the context of the Social and Cultural nexus.  Often viewed as an exciting and progressive sub-discipline of British and European geography, the conference seeks to ‘take-stock’ of the positionality of social geography, as Social and Cultural Geography becomes increasingly mainstream.  A significant presence at RGS/IBG conferences, combined with a marked growth in journals, books and monographs, undergraduate dissertations, and specialised Masters programmes in this area, is testament to the penetration of Social and Cultural Geography across a range of academic arenas. 

 

Yet as the reach of the sub-discipline continues to extend, there are ‘mutterings’ of a possible divorcement between different strands of the research group, arguably often based on perceptions and heresay.  In light of these recent informal discourses and the possible, inter-linked, forging of new research groups, the conference provides a timely opportunity to explore the general health of relations within the Social and Cultural Geography nexus.  

 

The event will include short interventions from panellists, drawn from Social and Cultural Geography. 

 

Confirmed panel speakers include Sophie Bowlby, David Conradson, Peter Hopkins, Phil Hubbard, Anoop Nayak and Rachel Pain. There will also be an international panel of speakers who will address social geographies beyond a UK positionality.

 

 

Fruitful, and potentially, provocative themes which delegates may discuss are:

 

• What and where is contemporary social geography?
• How important are individual, self-definitional markers of the members of Social and Cultural Geography?
• How are social geographers now defined by ‘others’ outside of the research group?
• Where does social geography currently fit within the context of Social and Cultural Geography, and the wider disciplinary boundaries of human geography?
• Have the set(s) of practices employed by social geographers changed over the last decade, and, if so, how have they changed?
• Have the overlapping interests of social geography with other sub-disciplines of human geography been re-cast over the last decade?
• Are perceptions of the marginalisation of some streams within Social and Cultural Geography accurate?
• How inclusive / exclusive are Social and Cultural geographies?
• Are social and cultural geographies inseparable?
• Is there substance to some interpretations of the ‘policing of sub-disciplinary boundaries’ within the Social and Cultural nexus?
• Are discussions of internal conflicts harmful for the vitality of Social and Cultural Geography, or simply evidence of a vibrant and active research group?
• Is a deep splintering of sub-groups unfolding within Social and Cultural Geography?
• Does the current mission of the Social and Cultural Research Group provide a meaningful base for social geographers?
• How do social geographers currently interface with other sub-disciplines of human geography?
• Are social geographers increasingly multi-positional within human geography, and is this linked to the activities of the Social and Cultural Geography Research Group?
• Should social geography be restricted to analyses of social relations?

 

Registration starts at 12 noon on 30^th January and the conference will finish by 4pm on the 31^st.

 

Accommodation and evening meals

·         You should make your own arrangements for accommodation.  The conference will take place at Jury’s Inn Hotel near Brighton Railway Station discounted rates apply to delegates of £ 75 pp/£80 for 2 people Bed and Breakfast.  Details of accommodation and the location of the hotel can be found at: http://brightonhotels.jurysinns.com/

 

·         A conference evening dinner will take place on 30^th January at Bill’s restaurant in the North Laines area of Brighton.  Details of restaurant can be found at:

http://www.billsproducestore.co.uk/opening.asp

Please note that the cost of the conference evening dinner is not included in the cost of registration.

 

Registration forms are available here:

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/set/research/conferences/2009REGISTRATION%20FORM%20SCGRG%20final.doc

 

 

COSTS

Registration fee (all participants must pay a registration fee)                               

Standard for 2 days (includes lunch and refreshments) - £50                                  

Postgraduates and unwaged (includes lunch and refreshments) - £30                                                                    

 

 

FORM RETURN

Please return forms before 9^th January 2009 to:

Cath Couper ([log in to unmask]) Geography and Geology Division, University of Brighton, Brighton, BN2 4GJ

(Tel: 01273 642390 Fax: 01273 642285)

 

 

 

With best wishes,

 

David Bissell, Kath Browne and Darren Smith