This is an annual conference aimed at the postgraduate student community and held in conjunction with the Society of South African Geographers (SSAG). The conference provides students from South African universities with the opportunity to experience a conference environment, network with other students and academics, and present their research. The conference  is meant to be a nurturing environment  with students presenting to their peers and a platform to begin a career in research.

This year the conference will be hosted by the staff and students of the Department of Geography at Rhodes University. The organisers encourage submissions from students completing an Honours Degree. While they will accept abstracts from Masters students, they are asked to consider submitting their abstracts to the SSAG Conference which will expose them to a more appropriate research environment.

The theme of the conferences is ‘20/20 Vision’ and we encourage participants to challenge their perspectives, adjust their focus, change their frame of reference, consider the viewpoints of others and adopt an introspective lens.

The conference organisers are challenging themselves and attendees to reduce the environmental impact of the conference. We will be doing this by reducing single use plastic, unnecessary conference swag, paper use and so on. As the city and campus are small we will be encouraging attendees to walk and we will provide shuttles to and from the airport. We are planning walking tours and fieldtrips to get participants out into the landscape. We will also attempt to make a few of our meals meat-free. What will you be doing to help us in this cause?

The conference has been scheduled to start the week following the National Arts’ Festival (25 June to 5 July), which means that anyone who is interested to participate in festival events will be able to explore what is on offer. We highly recommend that you include this event in your travel plans.

The conference will be hosted on the Rhodes University campus, which is within walking distance of the city centre and most of the accommodation in town. In addition, accommodation will be provided on campus in the student residences close to the
conference venue.

We look forward to hosting you in July!