According to my experience the RGS organisers are pretty good at 'policing'
the entrance. At the time of the RGS last year I happened to be in London
for a couple of days to look for housing and prepare for my PhD that started
in October. My idea was to take a look at the event to get a better
impression of my future social environment and maybe have the odd hallway
chat. It was already 2 or 3 pm and I was going for the sneak-in or
ask-if-I-can-have-a-look strategy. Right after crossing the threshold to the
venue a person on the counter welcomed me. After I explained my cause to
her, she sent me to the registration desk, which was attended by PhD
students. These told me that the regular 70 pounds (I think it was) was the
best they could offer me. Great first impression of both the RGS and my
future fellow students.....
simon
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jon Mendel" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 8:44 PM
Subject: Re: IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORATION: Space of Democracy network
event, 30th Au
>I don't mean to be naive, but is there anything stopping people just
> coming into the session if interested? I don't know if the RGS
> conference will have unusually 'good' security, but academic conferences
> generally present little barrier to just walking into a conference for a
> session or two... Of course, it's not at all welcoming if people have
> to 'sneak' into conferences when they can't pay the entry fee, but it
> would seem to be an option.
>
> At any rate, I'd agree that this applies to the whole conference as
> opposed to just the particular session (there are plenty of other
> sessions that one would hope are relevent beyond academia, would be of
> interest to a broad audience, etc).
>
> Jon
>
> Featherstone, Dave wrote:
>> Yes- this is a shame- and is also a strong barrier to
>> inter-disciplinarity, widening participation beyond the academia
>> etc... In this sense I think the problem lies much more with the
>> institutional configuration of the RGS... and I think it is a bit
>> unfair to target the particular session...
>>
>> Dave
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> *De:* A forum for critical and radical geographers en nombre de Duncan
>> Fuller
>> *Enviado el:* vie 17/08/2007 20:02
>> *Para:* [log in to unmask]
>> *Asunto:* Re: IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORATION: Space of Democracy
>> network event, 30th Au
>>
>> At an RGS research groups meeting last year i suggested that Research
>> Group Guest status (of which RGs can allocate now 6 days worth of
>> 'person') could/should perhaps be allocated on a session, as well (or
>> instead of) day or conference basis to allow more flexibility for
>> those who can't/don't want to attend anything else. This was rejected
>> pretty strongly by many in attendance, if i remember rightly, because
>> it was felt it would be too complicated to administer. I presume the
>> same would be argued for the very good suggestion of allowing people
>> to attend individual sessions and then maybe widen the audiences
>> attending.... On the guest front we have come some way in allowing
>> for 5 (i'm still not sure why its not 6!!!) individuals to attend for
>> one day each as opposed to the old 2x3day 'passes', but we haven't
>> come far enough.
>>
>> It a real shame on a number of grounds...
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> *From:* A forum for critical and radical geographers on behalf of Jon
>> Cloke
>> *Sent:* Fri 17/08/2007 13:31
>> *To:* [log in to unmask]
>> *Subject:* Re: IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORATION: Space of Democracy
>> network event, 30th Au
>>
>> So. In order to be allowed to participate in an event entitled "Space of
>> Democracy and Democracy of Space" there is a substantial entry barrier to
>> said discussion in that one must pay the RGS an exorbitant fee. How...
>> jejune - Hillary Wainwright should certainly know better.
>>
>> It should have been entitled "Spaces of Wealth-Democracy and
>> Income-Restricted Democracy of Exclusive Space", or something,
>> shouldn't it?
>>
>> Perhaps if it really is about critiquing territorial politics then you
>> could
>> begin with yourselves and your own 'politics'?
>>
>> Jon Cloke
>> Research Associate
>> Loughborough University
>>
>> --
>> This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous
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>>
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>>
>
> --
> Jon Mendel
> Blogs:
> http://www.watsonblogs.org/jmendel/
> http://www.holfordwatch.info
> Webpage:
> http://www.dur.ac.uk/geography/postgrad/students/?mode=staff&id=2276
> Skype: jon_m_m
>
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