PROGRAMME AND FIELD TRIPS

The IAG and NZGS conference space aims to be a convivial, intellectually stimulating, inclusive, diverse, and safe space where everybody feels equally welcome. Creating such a space is the responsibility of everyone, even as we recognise that it can be quite difficult and challenging to put into practice, given complex intersections of race, Indigeneity, ethnicity, disability, neurodiversity, gender, sexuality, sex characteristics, class, caste, skin colour, age, citizenship/visa status, nationality and religion, for example.

Geographers who explore place, space and scale as sites of differences, encounters, justices and progressive political imaginaries emphasise the importance of practices that create everyday equalities. Central to equality is dignity, respect, generosity, collegiality, shared responsibility and the deferral of quick judgements.

During the conference we ask you to be mindful of these principles as we act and engage individually and collectively in often unfamiliar environments and in passionate scholarship. Proactively watch out for those who stand on the sidelines who might feel hypervisible, invisible, hurt, unsafe, harassed or discriminated against by our everyday acts and environments. It is our responsibility as geographers to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion. We welcome feedback (at the time or privately) as part of our individual and disciplinary learning.

Some suggestions for more equitable and safer spaces at the joint NZGS/IAG conference might include

• When presenting, situate yourself in relation to your research interests, topic, participants, and the places in which you live and work.

• In sessions, pay attention to when and how much you are speaking.

• In sessions, ask generative questions with curiosity, humility and respect.