Sessions

Category: Geographical Information Sciences, Population Geography, Regional Geography
Keywords: Alpine region, energy transition, food security, open space, water

Climate change is a fact, and it affects our livelihoods and available resources already now and even more in the years coming. Climate impacts are even more severe in Alpine regions leading to rapid changes in environmental conditions (IPCC 2021, 41f; IPCC 2014, 4; Spehn & Körner 2017, 407; Jacob et al 2014, 567). Especially the changing water regimes have wide ranging impacts: e.g., increasing heavy rainfall events and droughts impact besides Alpine core area themselves also the surrounding fertile foothills and flatlands of the Alpine fringe (IPCC 2021, 150; Bender et al 2020, 1; ClimChAlp 2008).

At the same time land use pressure is increasing in Alpine regions. Especially climate mitigation efforts manifest through additional hydropower projects, new wind turbines and large-scale PV systems are having a significant share (Codemo et al 2023; Gaugl et al 2021). Hence, Alpine regions experience a phase of rapid change on many levels and open spaces are more and more becoming a scarce resource (Job et al 2020).

The proposed session should reflect on this ongoing transformation in Alpine regions with a special focus on the European Alps and their forelands. As a common framework we propose to take up the nexus concept. The established Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus (WEFE Nexus) highlights the interdependence of the single components and identifies mutually beneficial responses that are based on understanding the synergies of water, energy, agricultural and land use policies but also measurable and observable change (Pérez 2023).

To narrow the discussion water in Alpine areas should be the starting point of scientific contributions in the proposed session. Energy transition, food production and security as well as rapid changes in Alpine ecosystem are all related to water. Change or precipitation patterns, increasing occurrence of droughts, limited periods with snow cover, shrinking glacier areas, etc. all have wide ranging impacts according to existing dependencies.

REFERENCES:

Bender, E., Lehning, M., & Fiddes, J. (2020): Changes in climatology, snow cover, and ground temperatures at high alpine locations. Frontiers in Earth Science, 8, 100. DOI: 10.3389/feart.2020.00100.

ClimChAlp Partnership (2008): Klimawandel, Auswirkungen und Anpassungsstrategien im Alpenraum. Strategisches

Codemo A, Ghislanzoni M, Prados M-J, Albatici R. 2023. Landscape-based spatial energy planning: minimization of renewables footprint in the energy transition, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, DOI:10.1080/09640568.2023.2287978.

Gaugl R, Klatzer T, Bachhiesl U, Wogrin S, Jodl S. (2021): GIS-based optimization – achieving Austria’s 2030 wind energy target. Elektrotechnik Und Informationstechnik, 138(8), 590–596. DOI: 10.1007/s00502-021-00932-y.

IPCC (2014): Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland.

IPCC (2021): Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Masson-Delmotte, V., P. Zhai, A. Pirani, S. L. Connors, C. Péan, S. Berger, N. Caud, Y. Chen, L. Goldfarb, M. I. Gomis, M. Huang, K. Leitzell, E. Lonnoy, J. B. R. Matthews, T. K. Maycock, T. Waterfield, O. Yelekçi, R. Yu and B. Zhou (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press. In Press.

Jacob, D., Petersen, J., Eggert, B., Alias, A., Bøssing Christensen, O., Bouwer, L.M., Braun, A., Colette, A., De ́que ́, M., Georgievski, G., Georgopoulou, E., Gobiet, A., Menut, L., Nikulin, G., Haensler A., Hempelmann, N., Jones, C., Keuler, K., Kovats, S., Kröner, N., Kotlarski, S., Kriegsmann, A., Martin, E., Meijgaard, van E., Moseley, C., Pfeifer, S., Preuschmann, S., Radermacher, C., Radtke, K., Rechid, D., Rounsevell, M., Samuelsson, P., Somot, S., Soussana, J., Teichmann, C., Valentini, R., Vautard, R., Weber, B., Yiou, P. (2014): EURO-CORDEX: New High-Resolution Climate Change Projections for European Impact Research. Regional Environmental Change 14(2), 563–78. DOI: 10.1007/s10113-013-0499-2.

Job H, Willi G, Mayer M, Pütz M. (2020): Open Spaces in Alpine Countries: Analytical Concepts and Preservation Strategies in Spatial Planning. Mountain Research and Development 40(3), D1-11. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27003475.

Pérez, L. M. (2023): Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus: A key concept for a more resilient adaptation to the climate crisis. Natural Resources Conservation and Research, 6(1), 2324. DOI: 10.24294/nrcr.v6i1.2324

Spehn E., Körner C. (2017): Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf die Natur in den Alpen. Natur und Landschaft: 92(9), 407- 411. DOI: 10.17433/9.2017.50153499.407-411.

Arthur Schindelegger, Hubert Job,

Category: Human Geography, Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: tourism, sustainability, social ecology, transformation, infrastructure

Tourism is a hybrid phenomenon that blends and transcends spaces, places and all their environmental, social and economic sectors. The interplay with social, environmental/ecological and economic development has put the aspiration for sustainable tourism centre stage of discourses in research and practice since the early 1990ies (for example, the Journal of Sustainable Tourism was established in 1993). Crises and even collapses have shaped and affected tourism, and it is (still) often seen as a remedy and development pathway, while its contribution to the global carbon footprint and global tourism rebound after the COVID pandemic challenge the (un)sustainability of tourism.

This session invites – but is not limited to – contributions that

a) address transitions to more (un)sustainable forms of tourism (e.g. away from collective or commercial provisioning of accommodation to individualized holiday rentals or from public spa and bathing to private swimming pools), changing mobility patterns (e.g. charter flight and package tourism versus low-cost flights, automobile and public transport) from a theoretical, conceptual or empirical perspective.

b) address material and social transitions to more (un)sustainable forms of tourism (e.g. co-creation of tourism involving local communities versus displacement of local communities by and through tourism)

c) deal with the development of infrastructures for tourism and respective path dependencies (e.g. technical systems of winter sports)

In a nutshell, our session seeks to engage with critical discussions about tourism and its transformation as well as analysing tourism as a transformative vector of socio-ecological change.

Angela Hof, Alejandro Armas Diaz, Martin Knoll, Nora Müller,

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: energy geography, energy crisis, energy transition, renewable energy sources

The energy sector is a key pillar of the global economy, which is currently undergoing a major transformation. This change is based on the finite nature of fossil resources and their impact on the planet’s climate, which also raises the question of the future habitability of the Earth. The current system is demonstrably unsustainable. The need to transform the energy sector is thus becoming increasingly widely accepted. The energy crisis caused by the Russia-Ukraine war is a strong signal that this process is accelerating. The changes involve not only a shift from fossil fuels to renewables but also changes in consumption patterns, policies and support schemes, technological development and efficiency improvements, smart grid deployment, decentralization, energy self-sufficiency, land use, and environmental pressures.

The complexity of geosciences links them to the global energy system in a thousand ways, with all its segments actively contributing to the transformation of the energy economy and its sustainable path.

The “Global Energy” section invites contributions from scholars who study the geographical aspects of the energy sector, which is essential for the functioning of the global world, and who are interested in analyzing such phenomena from different spatial perspectives. Two topical and thus prominent themes of the session are the European energy crisis and the energy transition.

Balázs Kulcsár,

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: Toponyms, place names, cultural heritage, cultural change, standardization

Place-name standardization is a highly controversial topic and for this very reason not always successful and consequent. The main cleavages arise between local (e.g., respecting dialect forms), regional (achieving regional uniformity), national (respecting standard language forms) and international (respecting names of an international trade language) interests; group interests (e.g., minorities versus majority, commercial versus academic, private versus public); and the intention to preserve place names as cultural heritage and demands to adapt them continuously to modern requirements – to give every new generation and political power the opportunity of shaping its own ‘namescape’.

The last is perhaps the least in the focus of current discussions, because after the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of 2003 explicitly including all expressions of language and thus implicitly also place names, it is the leading paradigm to preserve place names as cultural heritage as much as possible and to avoid any changes. This has certainly its strong justification if one considers the significant symbolic value of places names for space-related identities or their function as keys to cultural history. In an open scientific discussion, however, also counterarguments may be highlighted and thoroughly evaluated. While there is broad agreement on the undesirability of the commercialization of places names and an even stronger impact of political dominators on the namescape, in particular street and other urban names, other adaptions of place names to cultural change may not be regarded as detrimental.

One of them is the adaptation of place names of all feature categories to the current orthography, while names of populated places frequently preserve outdated writings. Another is the recognition of new names, e.g. for urban quarters or also rural regions, if new community structures have emerged not in line with the traditional coinciding with inherited place names. Thus, the brand of a tourist region may not without justification become the standard name of this region, if this name gets into popular local use and meets also other standardization criteria. It may also happen that compactly settling migrant communities in urban areas develop after some generations their own toponymy and let the question arise, why this is not be officially recognized in addition to the inherited implemented by the former dominant population of this area. These examples could be continued leading to the principal question: Why should we deny every new generation the right of naming according to their own cultural disposition and perception of geographical space, when we agree on regarding place naming as a basic human attitude.

This general session theme includes papers on topics like

• Place-name changes
• Commercialization of the namescape
• Urban naming
• Tourism branding by place names
• Place names and migration
• Place naming as a basic human attitude

Prof. Peter Jordan (Austrian Academy of Sciences, AT),

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography, Regional Geography
Keywords: rural areas, data collection, living labs, transition challenges, transition opportunities

European rural and peri-urban areas are facing diverse development challenges and opportunities related to their functional transition. One of the ways to learn about and support the transition process is to directly engage and empower rural actors enabling a mutual information collection and flow. The evidence presented in this session derives from research carried out in different pilot regions across Europe as a majort component of the HORIZON EUROPE Rural Sustainability Transitions through Integration of Knowledge for improved policy processes RUSTIK project. Based on a Living Lab approach, data and information needs are locally (or regionally) defined, data collection methods selected, and information is collected to develop policy initiatives and solutions that can be transferable, replicable, serve as best practices for other European contexts and capacities of local actors. The papers presented in the session will draw from the experience of the living labs focusing both on individual experience of plot regions, and confrontation of opportunities and challenges across different cases.

Ewa Karolina Korcelli-Olejniczak, Bryonny Goodwin-Hawkins, Ingrid MACHOLD, Jerzy Bański, Ilona Rac, Francesco Mantino, Simone Sterly Sterly,

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: retail, digitalization, revitalization, store closures, property

Developments in the retail sector have become an integral part of urban and settlement geography studies via the central place theory. In more recent times, a variety of crisis-related challenges such as COVID-19, inflation, the energy crisis, the Ukraine war and dynamic population trends have not only caused vacancies in the retail sector, but also demanded extensive transformation efforts. These relate to the constant further development of business formats and location types, digitalization processes and solutions for sustainable sales and shopping from the perspective of retailers, consumers and relevant stakeholders from wholesale, urban and regional planning, politics and the resident population. Not only inner-city decay due to the closure of department stores, downgrading of offers or the decline of entire shopping centers can be observed, but also the rapid thinning out of basic services in rural areas due to the closure of village stores.

The following topics can therefore be derived:

1. which experiences exist as good-practice or worst-case in European comparison in order to derive either solutions for sustainable retail maintenance or also failed solutions for a revitalization of cities or rural areas? This concerns, for example, the conversion, mixed use or subsequent use of retail properties.

2. which digital changes are already being used as low-tech or high-tech solutions that are offered via self-scanning of goods in unmanned stores or grab-and-go stores? What is the acceptance of digital solutions among customers? Can digital solutions strengthen the competitive position of stores compared to online providers? Which digital offerings already exist in comparison to basic supply and lifestyle providers?

3. what governance structures are being developed to ensure an attractive and viable mix of brick-and-mortar stores in consultation with retailers and property owners?

4. what technical and graphical possibilities exist in the form of GIS, heat maps or evaluation of smartphone data or other innovative methods to record the development of locations or business formats in terms of their shopping attractiveness using big data?

5. which theoretical references from geography, marketing sciences, customer psychology, sociology or organizational sciences can be used to make the causes, the chronological sequence and the evaluation of the rise and fall of retail comprehensible?

Prof. Ulrich Jürgens (University of Kiel, DE),

Category: Cartography, Economic Geography, Geographical Information Sciences, Human Geography, Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: energy transition, viable society, renewables, energy efficiency

One of the critical challenges of a changing Europe is the energy transition and building long-term energy security that guarantees economic development and a viable society. This challenge is tricky because it requires facing the environmental crisis and acting in floating and volatile spatial and geopolitical conditions visible in Europe. Therefore, geographical knowledge generated at the interface of human and physical geography, including cartography and GIS, is leading in creating diagnoses, strategies and action plans. These documents, important from the point of view of national and supranational policies, including the creation of alliances for mitigation and adaptation to the climate change effects, require research on the differentiation of the energy mix, directions of energy transition, its spatial, environmental, socio-economic, historical and cultural aspects, location conditions of new energy entities (e.g. renewables vs nuclear energy), both from the point of view of the regional and local system. An inseparable component of these analyses is the relationship with the place and the creation of a responsible society, building energy communities based on local energy resources, and a participatory approach to the transition in the energy sector. The significance of geographical research is manifested in the need to apply a comprehensive and multi-dimensional perspective of these changes, which, taking into account spatial and socio-economic repercussions, also allow for their identification and analysis of the problems in other sectors, e.g. agriculture, transport or the functioning of households, both in urban and rural areas.

Justyna M. Chodkowska-Miszczuk, Agata Lewandowska, Dominik Zieliński,

Category: Urban Studies
Keywords: Green and blue infrastructure, urban health, environmental health, climate mitigation, justice

The positive impacts of urban green and blue infrastructure (GBI) in bringing various benefits for citizens’ health, well-being and quality of life, and mitigating the effects of climate change are widely recognized. However, due to discrepancies in the provision of these infrastructures, not all urban residents have the same opportunities to benefit from GBI in enhancing their health and well-being.

Prior evidence suggests that in addition to the quantity and availability of GBI for urban residents, the quality and accessibility of these infrastructures also play a decisive role in how health-promoting GBI are used, experienced, and engaged with. Nevertheless, most metrics applied to assess GBI in spatial decision making rely on simple quantitative measures, such as the spatial coverage of GBI and the calculated accessibility to GBI. Moreover, decisions to allocate health-supportive GBI in the urban space are made in specific institutional frameworks, under financial restrictions, and implemented in specific governance structures.

This session welcomes presentations addressing the above-described challenges in measuring and conceptualizing the health and well-being benefits provided by GBI for urban residents and the institutional structures contributing to their just and equitable distribution among urban populations. The session welcomes presentations focusing on the links between urban GBI and individual and community health and well-being as well as those situating human health within the frame of planetary health. Key topics include, but are not limited to, the following research topics:

1. The role of GBI in driving health-promoting urban transformations and climate adaptation;
2. Equity and justice perspectives in GBI accessibility, socio-economic and health conditions of GBI user groups, and resource availability;
3. GBI-led multifunctional approaches to maximise environmental, social and health benefits
4. Health and wellbeing perspectives in GBI governance;
5. Citizen-participation in planning, implementing, and maintaining GBI projects

Chiara-Charlotte Iodice, Noriko Otsuka, Anna Ulrika Kajosaari,

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: food systems, alternative food networks, self-provisioning, resilience, everyday practices

The ongoing complex crises have thrown into stark relief the vulnerability and unsustainability of the current food systems. At the same time, they have brought popular and academic attention to food as an arena for experimenting with and contesting novel ways of food provisioning. An important but often neglected opportunity for enhanced resilience of the food systems rests in the combination of the dominant capitalist food system with is diverse alternatives. While research on alternative food networks, food self-provisioning, sharing, foraging and other non-market or community-based alternatives mushroomed in recent decades, it developed in almost complete isolation from research on the conventional system. In contrast to this epistemic separation, many households combine food from conventional and alternative sources in their daily routines.

This Session aims to explore links and interdependencies between the food systems, the hybrid spaces “in between”, and the ways the systems mutually interact and influence each other. Our objective is to look at these links, spaces and interactions from the perspective of resilience while stressing the practicalities of household’s everyday practices. Welcomed are contributions about food self-provisioning, alternative food networks and other alternatives which take into account the place of the dominant food system in shaping practices, motivations and values attached to produced, shared or consumed food. We also invite critical research on the conventional food system’s sensitivities to actual or potential influences of food alternatives. Both conceptual and empirical contributions are welcome, as are papers using various theoretical lenses and located in diverse social and geographical contexts.

The contributions may aim at the following themes, but are not limited to them:

• Theories of hybridity in the context of food and food systems.
• Theorising value of food.
• Decolonising interpretations of food alternatives (in academic and political discourse).
• Perception of quality, price and access to food from conventional supply chains as a factor influencing the scale of food alternatives.
• Enacting, contesting and transgressing borders between mainstream and alternatives.
• Examples of conflicts, cooperation or co-optation between mainstream and alternative food systems.

Petr Daněk, Christina Plank, Lucie Sovová, Marta Kolářová, Jan Vávra, Petr Jehlička,

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: Transport, railway, mobility, regional development, decarbonisation

Railways in Europe are undergoing an ongoing evolution from national systems comprised primarily of conventional mixed use (passenger and freight) routes to more heterogenous systems with an increasingly fragmented and differentiated nature. At the same time, they are exhibiting a series of paradoxes which operate unevenly over space. EU frameworks aim to increase interoperability and access to networks for all operators, but increasingly complex homologation requirements increase the difficulty and cost of introducing new trains. Regulators are focused on increasing competition in the market and open access operators with the aim of widening passenger choice and reducing fares, but in practice this often has the consequence of reducing service levels in certain areas and increasing ticket prices and complexity for many users, with negative impacts for spatial and social equity. In the European Union there is a continued shift away from state ownership and national monopolies, while in Great Britain railways are being brought back into public control. There are ongoing efforts to increase rail use for environmental reasons, for example by introducing discounted tickets, while at the same time spiralling costs and limits on capacity are in some contexts resulting in proposals to increase fares to limit demand.

In this context, this session will explore the geographical impacts of the changes being experienced by European railway systems in a range of contexts. The scope of the session includes papers on both passenger and freight traffic and many kinds of networks and services (high-speed, conventional, light rail, overnight, etc.). Potential topics could include (but are not limited to):

• Railway systems planning and regulatory changes
• Spatial impacts of changes in railway ownership
• Spatial/social equity perspectives derived from the changing geographies of railways
• Open access operations
• Railway liberalisation implications: network effects, public services obligations, etc.
• Social and spatial impacts of discounted railway fare initiatives.
• The evolving geography of night trains in Europe
• Changing influences and impacts on railway services and mobility
• Causes and impacts of changing patterns of international railway networks and services
• Interactions between railways and urban/regional development

Both quantitative and qualitative approaches are welcome, as are papers from any disciplinary background, as long as there is a focus on the geographic aspects of railway systems. Papers which study the contrasts between railway geographies in different geographic areas would be particularly welcome.

Simon Blainey, Amparo Moyano,

Category: Geographical Information Sciences, Human Geography, Population Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: Disabled mobilities, Transport equity, Transport justice

The use of quantitative or mixed quantitative-qualitative approaches to analyse disabled mobilities is still in its infancy. On the one hand, the field of disability studies is dominated by theoretical-analytical and qualitative approaches and often explicitly rejects any quantitative methods for various political-epistemological reasons. On the other hand, transport geography has taken considerable advantage of the rapid advances in large data sets and GIS techniques, including the ease of modelling accessibility. However, almost all quantitative work has considered ‘average people’, without taking into account those with physical, visual, hearing or cognitive impairments. This can be done in two different ways, either by explicitly removing disabled users from datasets (as outliers) or by focusing on the average behaviour in datasets where disabled users are often under-represented. The results therefore overlook the actual mobility conditions of a significant proportion of the population (generally estimated to be between a sixth and a quarter of the population in the Global North, depending on the criteria chosen).

In this context, we encourage researchers to submit research that explores the use of quantitative or mixed quantitative-qualitative approaches in the field of disabled mobilities. We welcome all modes of transport; on the move and parking; all scales from local to global; all types of places (urban, suburban, rural, etc.); theoretical and applied works. We also welcome epistemological and methodological contributions on the status of this undone science.

WORKING LANGUAGE: English only.

NOTE: This proposal is under the auspices of the IGU Commission on Transport & Geography

Enka Blanchard, Frédéric Dobruszkes,

Category: Regional Geography
Keywords: Cross-border Transportation; Border Effects; Territorial Development; Gaps and Barriers

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, transborder and cross-border transportation plays a fundamental role in facilitating economic growth, enhancing cultural exchanges, and promoting regional development on a larger scale. Connectivity refers to the extent to which different regions and nations are linked via transport systems. For transborder and cross-border movement, both ‘hard connectivity’ according to physical infrastructure and ‘soft connectivity’ referring to service or/and policy dimensions, should be examined from a door-to-door perspective. Accessibility, on the other hand, focuses on the ease with which people and goods can reach their destinations. This includes various factors such as travel time, cost, available options, and reliability. Mobility refers to the ability of people and goods to move freely across borders, taking into account issues such as border controls, customs procedures, and regulatory frameworks. Moreover, as events such as Brexit, which have affected regionalisation on different scales, suggest that transborder and cross-border transportation studies should re-evaluate ‘borders’ from dynamic perspectives of connectivity, accessibility and mobility.

In the study of transborder and cross-border transportation, issues about infrastructure disparities, border effects, bottleneck problems, regulatory gaps, cultural barriers, social equity, and environmental sustainability should be widely discussed. This session aims to explore the various aspects of transborder and cross-border transportation, including connectivity, accessibility, and mobility. Potential topics could include, but are not limited to:

• Methods for assessing connectivity and accessibility of transborder or cross-border transportation
• Border effects and bottlenecks in transborder and cross-border transportation
• Territorial inequalities for transborder and cross-border transportation
• Modal competition and/or cooperation for transborder and cross-border transportation
• Geopolitics in transborder and cross-border transportation
• Mobility and social equity in transborder and cross-border transportation
• Regulatory gaps and policy issues in transborder and cross-border transportation
• Variations in border control for freight and passengers

Chia-Lin Chen, Jie Huang, Jiaoe Wang,

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography, Regional Geography
Keywords: tourism, mobility, polycrisis, changes, turbulent times

The rise of digitalisation, social media, low-cost flights, the sharing economy and experiential consumption has significantly transformed the traditional framework of tourism at the beginning of the 21st century (Timothy-Michalkó-Irimiás 2022). The scientific discourse on the totalisation of tourism has barely begun before the largest and longest lasting recession in tourism history (Domínguez-Mujica et al. 2023). The COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukrainian war, the energy crisis, inflation, extreme weather events linked to global warming, the migration crisis, often interlinked and catalysed by each other, have kept the economic and social environment of European tourism in a state of permanent turbulence since 2020. The tourism industry, which is slowly returning to its usual growth path, must meet the changing needs of demand in today’s polycrisis environment. Meanwhile, popular tourism destinations have reached the limits of their capacity, public patience is running out and local authorities are trying to reduce traffic by a variety of tools. Solid governmental enforcement of the principle of sustainable development is unable to inhibit undesirable levels of tourism, so individual liability and responsible travel are coming to the fore, and degrowth voices are increasingly being heard. Today, tourism has taken on a dual image, trying to preserve its traditional character and incorporating many new phenomena. The session aims to provide a forum for presentations that explore the changes taking place in European tourism, their background and their impact. The primary aim of the session is to enrich the theory of tourism mobility, but the organisers also wish to provide space for case studies supporting typology and managerial implications. The relevance of space and time will be a primary consideration when discussing changes affecting tourism mobility. The session will be organised collaborating with IGU Commission on Global Change and Human Mobility (GLOBILITY Study Group).

References:

Domínguez-Mujica, J., Drbohlav, D., Fonseca, M. L., Göler, D., Krišjāne, Z., Li, W., … & Staniscia, B. (2023). Global Change and Human Mobility in the Anthropocene. In Research Directions, Challenges and Achievements of Modern Geography (pp. 121-140). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.

Timothy, D. J., Michalkó, G., & Irimiás, A. (2022). Unconventional tourist mobility: A geography-oriented theoretical framework. Sustainability, 14(11), 6494.

Anna Irimiás, Gábor Michalkó,

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography, Population Geography, Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: AI technology, Space, Remote work, Individual, Relationship

The value, freedom, and mobility of individuals within space determine the spatial form, reflecting a nation’s future development trajectory. Historically, industrial technology enabled people to overcome natural constraints, while the development of information technology allowed for the extraction and concentration of resources within space. Although this spatial concentration has accelerated overall economic growth, it has also led to imbalances in spatial development, with resources gravitating towards central areas, thus restricting individuals’ freedom due to work constraints. Despite efforts by governments and businesses to alleviate spatial inequality through various measures, these attempts have yielded limited success. As AI technology gradually integrates into human life, new work models, such as remote work, have begun to symbolize the transformative impact of AI on spatial configurations. Remote work, for example, allows individuals to decouple their place of residence from their place of work, enabling them to choose living locations freely within space with the assistance of AI. This grants individuals greater freedom within space and mitigates the concentration of resources in specific areas. This session explores how individuals, utilizing new technologies in the AI era, are reshaping and transforming spatial forms.

Runlin Yang, Shan Yang,

Category: Human Geography, Migration Studies
Keywords: migration, transnationalism, subjective, well-being, international

It is widely assumed that people generally act with the aim of enhancing their subjective well-being (SWB), which is regarded as a final goal of choices and actions (Selezneva 2011). From this perspective, voluntary migration can be considered a tool to reach this desired outcome. Therefore, to better understand the causes, consequences, and spatial aspects of migration, investigating the dynamics of subjective well-being (operationalized mostly by life satisfaction, happiness, and other affective or eudaimonic variables – OECD 2013) and its material and non-material drivers is essential.

The spatial analysis of the migration–SWB nexus is a challenging task, particularly for migrant transnationalism, a phenomenon in which people simultaneously belong to different social ‘fields’ in different countries (e.g., Glick Schiller et al. 1992, Boccagni 2012). International surveys often lack relevant migrant-specific background information, and the results are rarely meaningful at the subnational level. Empirical studies are far from consistent (Bartram 2013, Stillman 2015, Guedes Auditor and Erlinghagen 2021 etc.) due to the absence of a unified theoretical framework and the fact that the circumstances and consequences of migration are heterogeneous. The entire phenomenon is deeply shaped by the historical, socio-economic, and geographic contexts in which it occurs.

This session seeks to unpack the multi-faceted relationship between migration, migrant transnationalism, and subjective well-being through the discussion of various topics, including the following.

– Inequalities: The SWB gap between certain social groups (e.g. native- and foreign-born people) and its changes over time and space.

– Causal relationships: The impact of SWB on migration intentions/decisions and impact of migration on SWB changes.

– Migrant transnationalism: The way the transnational economic, political and sociocultural ties affect spatial behaviour and SWB.

– Urban environment: The way certain spatial factors influence SWB in cities, such as housing affordability, access to public services, proximity to green spaces, residential segregation, and perceived social cohesion.

We invite scholars to present theoretical and empirical analyses in these topics, with special attention to the spatial relationships. Contributions with diverse methodological approaches are welcome. Submissions may address also policy analyses that illuminate the interrelations between the key concepts.

References

Bartram, D. (2013). Happiness and ‘economic migration’: A comparison of Eastern European migrants and stayers. Migration Studies, 1(2), 156–175.

Boccagni, P. (2012). Revisiting the “transnational” in migration studies: A sociological understanding. Revue Européenne des Migrations Internationales (online), 28(1), 33–50.

Glick Schiller, N., Basch, L., & Blanc-Szanton, C. (1992). Towards a transnational perspective on migration: Race, class, ethnicity, and nationalism reconsidered. New York: New York Academy of Sciences.

Guedes Auditor, J., & Erlinghagen, M. (2021). The happy migrant? Emigration and its impact on subjective well-being. In M. Erlinghagen et al. (Eds.), The global lives of German migrants (pp. 189–204). IMISCOE Research Series, Springer International Publishing.

OECD (2013). OECD guidelines on measuring subjective well-being. OECD Publishing.

Selezneva, E. (2011). Surveying transitional experience and subjective well-being: Income, work, family. Economic Systems, 35(2), 139–157.

Stillman, S., Gibson, J., McKenzie, D., & Rohorua, H. (2015). Miserable migrants? Natural experiment evidence on international migration and objective and subjective well-being. World Development, 65, 79–93.

Dr. Adam Nemeth, Prof. Yuri Kazepov,

Category: Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: Disability, Accessibility, Perception of space

By examining the characteristics of societies and cultures in relation to disability, the concerns of disability studies are useful for geography, as they enable us to reflect on spatial barriers and on the diversity of ways of perceiving or representing space. Over and above the question of accessibility, spatial approaches enable us to reflect on the habitability of territories, whether highly urbanized or rural, in terms of disability.

• Accessibility as a category for public action

– How do disability-related issues lead public authorities to reconfigure space?

– How does this translate into accessibility policies on different scales (from global to worldwide) and according to different types of space (urban/rural)?

• Disability and the space we use, perceive and experience

– How do disabled people use space?

– How do they negotiate, appropriate and transform space?

– What spatial barriers do they face?

– What are the advantages of studying disability through a sensitive, cultural geographical approach?

• Disability and geography: epistemological, conceptual and methodological issues

– What role does and can geography play in disability studies?

– To what extent does the spatial and geographical approach raise epistemological and methodological issues for the various research streams in disablity studies?

– How do spatial and geographical approaches reconfigure disability?

– How can we work on disability in geography?

– What methodological tools can be used to gain access to the experience of people with disabilities?

– Comment les personnes handicapées utilisent-elles l’espace ?

– Comment négocient, s’approprient et transforment l’espace ?

– À quels obstacles spatiaux sont-ils confrontés ?

– Quels sont les avantages d’étudier le handicap à travers une approche géographique sensible et culturelle ?

• Handicap et géographie : enjeux épistémologiques, conceptuels et méthodologiques

– Quel rôle la géographie joue-t-elle et peut-elle jouer dans les études sur le handicap ?

– Dans quelle mesure l’approche spatiale et géographique soulève-t-elle des enjeux épistémologiques et méthodologiques pour les différents courants de recherche en études du handicap ?

– Comment les approches spatiales et géographiques reconfigurent-elles le handicap ?

– Comment travailler sur le handicap en géographie ?

– Quels outils méthodologiques peut-on utiliser pour accéder à l’expérience des personnes en situation de handicap ?

Meddy Escuriet, Mauricette Fournier, Franck Chignier-Riboulon,

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography
Keywords: Sacrifice zones; counter-narratives; territorial-state strategy; spatial justice

Sacrifice zones are defined based on localization conflicts, corresponding to what Shade (2015) refers to as a “territorial-state strategy.” The UN (2022) describes them as the result of collusion dynamics between governments and businesses, leading to areas characterized by high levels of toxicity and pollution, thus opposing sustainable development policies and harming the interests of present and future generations.

The study of sacrifice zones raises questions related to both the spatial dimension, concerning the distribution of damage and benefits to populations, and the territorial dimension, linked to planning decisions and the relationships between the involved actors. Moreover, it is essential to consider the place-based dimension, particularly regarding how the inhabitants of these areas experience and process individual and collective, often traumatic, experiences (Pain, 2021).

A multi-scalar approach allows us to understand the sacrifice zone as a social space produced by North/South and center-periphery networks of relations, which play a fundamental role in defining which territories are considered “sacrificable.” This is driven by hierarchical spatial visions animated by extractive, predatory, and profit-driven logics, which inevitably impact the right to the city, the environment, and equitable, healthy, sustainable, and solidarity-based living conditions (Coddington, Micieli-Voutsinas, 2017). It should be noted that planning decisions behind the identification of sacrifice zones span various scales, from local to global (Souza, 2021). This includes extra-European sacrifice zones created to meet European demands and even the micro-scale of individual experiences. Therefore, spatial justice must also be addressed from a multi-scalar perspective, starting with a critical analysis of these planning decisions.

The session welcomes theoretical reflections and case studies on European sacrifice zones, with the aim of analyzing their main configurative characteristics, starting from the territorializing methods and deterritorializing effects of so-called strategic interventions in the affected areas. The session is also open to cultural and media representations of sacrifice zones, highlighting how these representations influence the social perception and legitimization of the sacrifice of certain territories and communities.

Additionally, the session aims to explore resistance practices carried out by local communities, which, in response to exclusion and marginalization, are able to develop strategies for reterritorialization, innovation projects, experimentation, and regeneration. These processes are hypothesized to represent attempts to reclaim the territory through participatory, solidarity-based, ecological, and socially inclusive practices.

References

Coddington K, Micieli-Voutsinas J (2017) On trauma, geography, and mobility: Towards geographies of trauma. Emotion, Space and Society 24: 1-5.

Pain, R. (2021). Geotrauma: Violence, place and repossession. Progress in Human Geography, 45(5), 972-989.

Shade, L. (2015). Sustainable development or sacrifice zone? Politics below the surface in post-neoliberal Ecuador. The Extractive Industries and Society, 2(4), 775-784.Souza M.L., ‘Sacrifice zone’: The environment–territory–place of disposable lives, Community Development Journal, Volume 56, Issue 2, April 2021, Pages 220–243, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsaa042

UN (2022) “The right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment: non-toxic environment. Report of the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment” https://www.scienzainrete.it/files/G2200448.pdf

Federica Epifani, Patrizia Domenica Miggiano, Gustavo D’Aversa,

Category: Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: climate change, health, urban, cities, well-being

The relationship between urban environments and human health has been investigated at different stages in the history of cities and by different disciplines (geography, town planning, epidemiology, health engineering, etc.), given that the spatial organisation of the city directly or indirectly influences the health status and well-being of urban citizens. Now, climate change negatively affects the health of individuals and communities by intensifying unfavourable conditions in urban areas (e.g. heat waves and the urban heat island phenomenon, urban flooding, ozone exposure). Against this, urban green areas are referred to as a key factor for harnessing the co-benefits of both climate adaptation and human well-being. Green spaces are composed of a complex taxonomy including agricultural areas, great metropolitan parks, small neighbourhood parks, tree-lined streets, etc. Each type of green area offers a variety of uses and affects human health in different ways (by producing healthy food, mitigating temperatures, reducing pollution, etc.). In general, green areas in urban environments can be considered as “therapeutic” places, as they play significant role in reducing negative conditions and improving the physical and mental well-being of individuals.

Against these new developments, this conference session seeks to continue the debate regarding the direct or indirect connection between green areas and human health. We seek to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue (geography, urban studies, health and medical studies, etc.) in order to better integrate policies for green areas and those for human health, properly considering the characterisation of spaces and resident populations (with respect to their attitudes and practices), including the role of policy-makers, stakeholders, associations and individual citizens.

The session organizers welcome contributions focusing on:

• conceptual approaches to urban health and healing cities in the context of climate change,
• the role of green areas in urban contexts with respect to their ability to support and increase certain physical and mental health,
• case studies of urban contexts that highlight the role of space (presence or absence of green areas) in conditioning specific diseases and medical conditions,
• urban policies and projects adopted to strengthen the green system with a view to improving citizens’ health,
• reflections or initiatives related to climate change adaptation in relation to the topic of ‘urban nature’ and human health benefits.

Susann Schäfer, Emanuele Garda, Sören Becker,

Category: Migration Studies, Urban Studies
Keywords: public space, urban transformation, inclusion, exclusion, social cohesion

Public space in urban areas plays a central role in social life. It is not only a place of encounter and exchange, but also a mirror of the social, cultural and economic dynamics of a city. Public space includes all freely accessible areas that are intended for the general public irrespective of social or economic background. These encompass squares, parks and other communal areas. Public spaces are crucial to the quality of life of urban dwellers as they provide opportunities for leisure, social interaction and cultural as well as political activities.

Currently, public spaces in European cities are facing manifold challenges that have put them under pressure. The most prominent ones are

(1) The effects of global crises on the local level, such as the pandemic, the climate crisis and growing poverty due to ongoing inflation. Crises alter the ways in which people use public space and underline the need for urban transformations, while growing usage has increased the potential for conflict between different user groups. Climate change in particular will affect cities in the future, with sustainable solutions urgently sought.

(2) The issue of security and the securitization of urban spaces, which is an often-exploited topic in populist discourse, with certain neighbourhoods being framed as inherently unsafe, fuelling discussions in relation to a generalised suspicion against migrants. Inclusion and exclusion and the notion of “who does public space belong to” are intricately linked to questions of superdiversity and social cohesion.

(3) The unequal distribution of easily accessible public space in cities, which primarily affects economically weaker groups. Notable disparities between neighbourhoods limit the access for marginalised groups who may feel – once again – excluded.

This session welcomes contributions that address one or several of the mentioned issues, without being limited to them. We are not only interested in the challenges, but presentations delving into discourse on public space, its governance, or success and failure of civic participation and other measures are highly welcome.

Ursula Reeger, Miriam Haselbacher,

Category: Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: accessibility, active mobility, 15-minute City, diverse spatial contexts, diverse target groups

Contemporary urban neighbourhood planning concepts centre around the accessibility of daily services within a walkable or cyclable distance from home. As such, these urban planning approaches promise to further the sustainable mobility transition at the local level. Carlos Moreno`s 15-minute City as the guiding urban planning model for Paris became a world-famous example.

The most commonly used operationalisations of the 15-minute-city concept are based on proximity-based accessibility. While most studies have focused on the transport and land-use components of accessibility, recent literature has emphasised its individual dimension. Differences in individual needs, constraints, and experiences lead to diverse levels of perceived accessibility for different population groups, even when living in areas with similar calculated accessibility. The residential location and its characteristics as well as the individual factors have shown to influence the mobility and activity space patterns of residents and, therefore, their actualised accessibility.

Based on the diversity of understandings and realities of accessibility, different approaches, definitions and methods have recently been introduced to the scientific debate about the 15-minute City. For example, the concept has been expanded to include accessibility by public transport to make it suitable for peri-urban/rural areas. In parallel, related integrated land-use and transport planning policies and practices have been employed in different urban and regional settings.

This session focusses on the diversity of substantial and methodological approaches related to the 15-minute City and neighbouring concepts.

The aim of the session is to discuss and critically reflect the variety of definitions, methods and approaches to study the diverse conceptualizations, realisations and lived experiences of the 15-minute City and related ideas. And thus, to contribute to a comprehensive picture of the debate in different spatial and social contexts.

We welcome contributions on accessibility and 15-minute Cities from a wide spectrum of research and disciplines that

• provide a conceptual or theoretical contribution to the debate
• apply qualitative, quantitative, multi or mixed methods research
• involve different target groups living in diverse spatial settings
• discuss the policies and practices in the implementation of these concepts.

We especially invite contributions from Early Career Researchers (PhD students or young PostDocs).

Samira Ramezani, Martina Schorn, Janina Welsch,

Category: Human Geography, Migration Studies, Population Geography
Keywords: migration, mobility, immobility, rural areas

After the lockdown imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, human mobility has regained momentum both internationally and nationally, for both permanent migration and temporary movements. At the same time, new global trends have emerged, such as the re-evaluation of rural areas as places that provide a better quality of life, an increase in remote work, the rise of digital nomadism, and the search for new lifestyles that ensure a better balance between work and personal time. There is also the emergence of a new value system in which perceived quality of life is influenced by many factors beyond just economic ones.

The Globility-Global Change and Human Mobility Commission, in proposing this session, aims to explore the various forms of (im)mobility that have characterized the European space in recent years. The session intends to discuss both subjective and territorial factors that influence (im)mobility and the impacts that (im)mobility has on both origin and destination areas.

We will consider (im)mobility as the result of a free choice or a lack of options, the influence that personality traits have on (im)mobility, how different life stages entail different (im)mobility, how gender affects mobility decisions, why some regions produce greater (im)mobility, the role played by the territorial endowment of economic, human, and social capital, and the importance of place-identity and place-attachment in (im)mobility decisions.

The session welcomes contributions based on both theoretical reflections and empirical research.

Barbara Staniscia, Josefina Domínguez-Mujica,

Category: Human Geography, Migration Studies, Population Geography, Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: population geography, demography, migration, data-Informed Solutions

According to the European Commission, demographic change, alongside the green and digital transitions, is a pivotal force shaping Europe’s future. Robust, comparable demographic data and knowledge at the most granular geographical level are indispensable for informing policies in health, labour, education, access to services and amenities, territorial development, and cohesion. This data will enable policymakers to tailor their strategies to the specific needs and challenges arising from demographic shifts.

Political decision-making related to future challenges, for example, in the fields of medical care, the housing market, or education, highly depends on valid estimates of the future population size and structure. Regional heterogeneity in Europe requires tailored data-informed solutions and policies that consider population composition, internal and external migration processes, and non-migration.

This session aims to examine the complex interplay between demographic shifts and migration patterns in the contemporary world. By leveraging data-driven approaches, we will seek innovative strategies and policy solutions to address the challenges and opportunities arising from migration, demographic change and an ageing population.

Submissions can address the following questions:

• What are the key demographic and migration challenges facing Europe today?
• How can these challenges be addressed through evidence-based policies and interventions?
• What are the implications of these challenges for social, economic, cultural, political and even environmental sustainability?

We invite scholars to contribute to the following topics, among others:

• Social inequalities: Analyse disparities across social groups and spatial contexts.
• Urbanization: Examine processes, drivers, and effects of urbanization on societies.
• Population health: Investigate the relationships between population health and social, economic, and environmental factors.
• Ageing: Explore the implications of population ageing for social, economic, and political spheres.

Zaiga Krisjane, Elina Apsite Berina, Maris Berzins,

Category: Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: political graffiti, political street art, political geography, political expressions, political symbolism

As Europe faces political, social, and economic transformations, cities increasingly serve as crucial arenas for public expression. This session aims to explore the role of political graffiti, stickers, and other forms of urban (visual) communication as both reflections of and reactions to these changes. From slogans and symbols scrawled on walls to stickers and street art, the urban landscapes have long provided a platform for people to assert their views, resist dominant narratives, and claim visibility in contested spaces. These expressions increasingly mirror the complexities of the wide array of political themes and discourses. By examining the intersections of art, politics, and the urban environment, we seek to understand how individuals and groups utilise symbolic public spaces to negotiate their place within a transforming Europe.

We invite contributors to explore political graffiti and street art in diverse urban contexts across Europe, including but not limited to cities with established traditions of these kinds of expressions, such as those in Austria. We welcome case studies, comparative analyses, and theoretical approaches that investigate the significance of these visual forms in expressing political opinion, shaping urban landscapes, and contributing to the symbolic power of public spaces.

Dr. David Hána (Faculty of Science, Charles University, CZ),

Category: Human Geography, Migration Studies
Keywords: Cultural geography, Globalisation, Changing Europe, Religious migration, Religious landscape

After WWII the reversal of the migratory balance has made Europe, already a Christian continent and engine of the spread of Christianity on the planet, a receptor of the dominant religions in other continents. This process is part of the more general reshaping caused by globalization, which is profoundly changing the face of our planet. The entire “cultural complex” is affected simultaneously.

Throughout the world, the religious composition of populations is changing rapidly and Europe is no exception. Before our eyes appears a general reshuffling that erases the identification, once common, between a people and a given religion. This also applies to the ways in which religions are inscribed in different territories, through environmental transformations that Deffontaines has highlighted in his works. In fact, architectural creations, being destined to last over time, often end up far exceeding the duration of the spiritual impulse at the base of their creation.

From this circumstance a question emerges: in an era of change like the current one, what is

at risk are the cultures that arose under the banner of the various religions or is it rather the core of the different faiths itself? A tentative answer requires first of all taking into consideration the types of phenomena that can be recorded. Each of them opens a different path of investigation to researchers. Below we give a summary list:

-growth of religious indifferentism

-decrease in religious attendance (with the related use of places of worship)

-attacks on religious symbols (places of worship and religious signs)

-change in the legal regime (issue of “state religion”)

-advance of agnosticism and birth of atheist societies

-advance of “foreign” religions and establishment of religious minorities

-conversions from one religion to another.

As regards the effects on the territory:

-transformation of religious architecture

-adjusting of pre-existing sacred buildings, now used for profane purposes, for other religions, or simply destroyed, either violently or legally

-transformation of landscapes, especially the urban ones: creation of areas without places of worship (or with the absence of artefacts and/or religious toponymy)

-development of multi-ethnic areas with variety of places of worship.

Prof. Gianfranco Battisti (University of Trieste, IT),

Category: Migration Studies, Population Geography, Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: Ukrainian crises, immigration, refugees, housing, integration, segregation

The geopolitical events of recent years (Euromaidan, annexation of Crimea, armed conflict in eastern part of Ukraine, full-scale Russian military invasion) have brought Ukraine into the focus of international interest. These geopolitical changes resulted in a massive influx of Ukrainian citizens to EU countries. In addition to blue-collar workers, more than 7 million refugees fled to Europe in 2022, mostly women and children. This population movement created unprecedented challenges and humanitarian crises in many countries and cities, demanding quick and flexible public policies and involvement of civic society. Socio-economic impact on host societies is profound, as divergent approaches to integration efforts, access to housing, health care and labor market, inter-ethnic relations and legislation are present among EU countries. Thus, both previous integration efforts and current policies can be discussed and their outcomes and consequences evaluated.

The main aim of this session is to bring together new knowledge on migration and integration issues in Europe with a special focus on migrants from Ukraine. Taking into account different scales and geographical foci, we welcome speakers to present theoretical-conceptual reflections, methodological approaches, and empirical results that contribute to a deeper understanding of how the Ukrainian crises transformed the migration patterns and socio-economic processes in Europe.

Proposed topics to address in this part of the session include (but are not limited to):

• new developments in migration / refugee migration from/to Ukraine (return policies, circular migration, remittances)
• impacts and responses to migration from Ukraine (demographic consequences, gender differences, settlement policies)
• integration into housing, labor market, schools and healthcare of Ukrainian migrants
• urban processes and demographic challenges (segregation, discrimination, exclusion, policy developments) in the host societies

Martin Šimon, Katalin Kovály,

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: epistemic community, geographical discourse, geographies of science, history of geography, transnationalism

The early 20th century brought about profound political, social, and economic changes in Europe. These transformations not only constituted an important object for geographical research but also had massive impacts on the academic, school, and professional practices of geography and the lives of geographers, be they university professors, schoolteachers, politicians, or representatives in the business domain.

Our session focuses on how epistemic communities in geography evolved from the fin-de-siècle years to the mid-1940s in times of peace and war, the collapse of empires and the forging of new nation-states, the emergence of new democracies and authoritarian regimes, and subsequent periods of economic booms and crises. Taking a transnational and multidisciplinary approach, the session scrutinizes ruptures and continuities in the personnel, institutional framework, and funding scheme of geography as a discipline, along with its discourses, methods, and narratives.

Papers on local and national case studies embedded into a broader transnational context and comparative studies based on a transnational approach are welcome. The floor will be open to both the stories of influential scholars and institutions, as well as investigations into marginalized and precarious members of the geographical community—such as female geographers, assistants, and geographers from minority groups—along with the institutions, places, and discourses they were attached to.

Ferenc Gyuris, Johannes Mattes, Norman Henniges,

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: Ordinary heritage, private actors, real estate investments, urban transformation, preservation, social cohesion, identity

Over the last decade, historic housing has become the subject of investment by real estate developers, service companies and individual owners alike, resulting in a substantially modified function of this housing stock. The actions also disrupted the traditional configuration around local preservation policy by bringing new, often hard to control actors into the decision-making process of heritage preservation. A particular difficulty is presented in CEE cities, where the super-ownership tenure structure gives even less leeway for authorities. As a result, boundaries between the cultural, the political, and the market have become blurred, requiring critical attention to preservation and heritage constructs (Hafstein, 2012: 503) especially around ordinary historic objects, also reorienting their tangible and intangible significance.

In this context a proper assessment of these transformation and their outcomes is needed to balance private and public interest but also to see clearly the diverse economic and socio-cultural objectives. While issues of preservation and transformation of historic urban cores have been investigated and debated (Smith, 1998; McCabe, 2018), private actors´ intervention in historic housing stock, more specifically in ordinary historic housing objects, raise new questions around object selection, demolition and preservation processes.

Looking at historic residential buildings as “ordinary” heritage objects adheres to a heritage discourse that considers elements significant even when they are neither recognised by governments nor listed on official heritage registers but are considered significant or culturally meaningful by individuals, communities, and collectives for the ways in which they constitute themselves and operate in the present (Harrison, 2010). Taking this approach as a point of departure this session invites empirical and theoretical contributions that deal with these questions and issues. It is particularly interested in submissions dealing with new heritage expressions, place identity, social and technical innovations/responses, spatial transformation in the context of investments into the housing stock.

Sandra Guinand, Hanna Szemzö, Viktoria Lélek,

Category: Geographical Information Sciences, Urban Studies
Keywords: Gamification, Metaverse, Transhumanism, GIS, Digital Innovations

The session aims to explore how digital innovations are redefining the discipline of geography by merging physical and digital reality. Gamification transforms the spatial experience by making the understanding of territories interactive and playful. Indeed, by integrating the immersive experiences offered by digital reality, it succeeds in presenting a new space that increasingly benefits from the effects of civic participation and social innovation.

The metaverse, with its immersive virtual spaces, is redefining geographical boundaries and social interactions, creating new digital worlds and offering new opportunities to rethink the way we interact with space and with others. Transhumanism goes further, integrating advanced technologies to extend human capabilities and redefine the interaction between body and space.

The session proposes a reflection on the future of geography, in constant tension between theory and practice, not static, but multidimensional and interdisciplinary, positioned in constant change on the two space-time axes that influence the way we inhabit and perceive places.

The session will therefore welcome scientific contributions that discuss the theoretical, practical and interpretive model of the discipline, immersed in a multi-verse society and coexisting outside space-time, where a geo-localised point can become a node of a Euclidean geometry, but also something else, something still alien, because it is imaginative.

Luisa Carbone, Luca Lucchetti, Miriam Noto, Tony Urbani,

Category: Human Geography, Migration Studies, Urban Studies
Keywords: Participation, Spaces of inclusion, Care, Citizenship, Equality

The current political, economic, and ecological crisis, marked by the erosion of welfare state and care policies, is leading to episodes of marginalisation, here understood as a process involving both spatial segregation and exclusion from decision-making opportunities and their implementation. However, the dynamics of exclusion are not always overt and can result in various outcomes in terms of engagement in public life. The most vulnerable groups – e.g. migrants, young people, people in difficult socio-economic circumstances (observed more and more from an intersectional perspective) – are the most affected by this situation. They are often the focus of discourses on alternative practices of care and social inclusion, both institutional and non-institutional, which encompass participatory processes and community-driven initiatives.

Although there is a widespread desire to empower the aforementioned social groups (e.g. the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development), the numerous attempts only occasionally achieve the expected results. Sometimes, projects and policies are promoted without adequately surveying the needs of the target groups. In other cases, they generate co-optation dynamics that further strengthen inequalities. What times, spaces and methods for participation and sharing currently exist? Are these opportunities effective, or do they reproduce and reinforce the status quo? What factors can influence participatory processes, such as temporalities, emotional, spatial and power relations in the institutional and non-institutional places of participation (e.g. squares, schools, community health centres, housing, places of work, consumption etc.)? How can these places be produced, used or transformed to support a changing Europe from an equality perspective?

Contributions, whether in the form of oral presentations, videos, performances, podcasts, or other formats, can develop case studies, theoretical and/or methodological aspects. We welcome particularly those that explore critical aspects and contradictions.

EMANUELA GAMBERONI, GIUSEPPE GAMBAZZA, SILVY BOCCALETTI, VALENTINA CAPOCEFALO, GIOVANNA DI MATTEO, DANIELE PASQUALETTI,

Category: Migration Studies, Urban Studies
Keywords: Arts-based research; urban geography, innovative methods

Urban public spaces are dynamic social, cultural, and political arenas that are filled with meaning and that are constantly evolving as individuals and communities interact with them. In this way, urban spaces are living texts, where each street corner, park, and building tells a story shaped by myriad interactions and histories that have unfolded over time. They are, however, also marked by unequal power relations that manifest in diverse ways, leading to varying perceptions and experiences among individuals and groups. To make these multiple, differing meanings accessible, it is crucial to employ inclusive and creative research methodologies that aim to break with long-established hierarchies.

While qualitative and quantitative research methods have traditionally been used to generate knowledge about urban spaces, arts-based research methods hold the promise to create new perspectives for research, to chart alternative pathways for knowledge creation, and to highlight aspects of lived urbanity that have been unnoticed or under-researched. They expand the toolkit of the urban geographer by making urban spaces accessible through aesthetic approaches and by providing means to express complex emotional and affective meanings. Arts-based research methods can foster citizen participation, give marginalized people a voice, and create new spatialities in different media that transform our traditional way of seeing things. Hence, they can provide the means and media to re-imagine urban lifeworlds and re-invent the ways we live together in shared urban environments.

For this session, we invite research that has developed innovative, arts-based research approaches to examine how lived experience and individual life trajectories influence our understanding of urban spaces and the complex layers of identity and belonging defining our cities.

We welcome contributions on the following topics:

– Arts-based research as a method and/or research perspective within urban studies, advancing the toolkit of geographical research and providing insights into innovative research techniques

– Research focusing on the plurality of voices, meanings, and experiences inscribed into the urban fabric.

– Research that prioritizes marginalized voices, aiming to make research more inclusive.

– Research that emphasizes citizen participation and the co-creation of urban spaces.

Miriam Haselbacher, Philipp Schnell, Wiebke Sievers,

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: rural development, urban-rural mobility, ruralisation, knowledge transfer

The proposed session invites exploration of the growing urban-to-rural migration trends across Europe, shaped by recent changes such as the climate crisis, the COVID pandemic, the safety risks of war and migration, economic instability, and an increasing demand for more sustainable, eco-conscious lifestyles. Unlike the long-standing urbanisation trends, which drew people from rural areas into cities (and to the surroundings during the process of suburbanisation), in the last decades urban-to-rural mobility of urban people, culture, values, and practices became a visible social phenomenon. Scholars have examined this phenomenon through concepts like counter-urbanisation (Halfacree, 2012), amenity migration (Gosnell & Abrams, 2009), rural gentrification (Phillips, 1993; 2010; Phillips et. al. 2021), geoarbitrage (Hayes,2018) and increasingly, ruralisation (Chigbu 2014). The session’s basic question is: what is the impact of these flows of different urban social groups, values, attitudes, and practices on rural areas? How could they contribute to the livelihoods and sustainability of rural communities?

While urban-to-rural migration brings new knowledge, values, and financial capital to the countryside, the influx of urban populations from diverse social and cultural backgrounds inevitably leads to tensions and conflicts. Differences in worldviews, objectives, and uses of rural space between newcomers and long-established rural residents can create competition over resources, as well as social friction (Nemes & Tomay, 2022). However, alongside these challenges lies the potential for positive cross-fertilisation. The diverse skills, knowledge, social capital, and financial resources brought by urban migrants can complement those of the local population, leading to innovation, resilience, and transformation in rural communities. Sustainable farming practices, ecological knowledge, and alternative lifestyle approaches introduced by urban migrants may blend with traditional rural practices, creating new opportunities for rural development.

We invite both theoretical and empirical contributions that explore the tensions, conflicts, and potential synergies created by urban-to-rural migration. We are particularly interested in papers that address how different forms of capital—knowledge, social, and financial—are exchanged and integrated within rural communities. We welcome any theoretical background including but not limited to counter-urbanisation, rural gentrification, amenity migration, geoarbitrage, rural and second-home tourism, ruralisation and the transfer of knowledge and capital in sustainable and ecological farming. We also encourage contributions that rethinking rural spaces as dynamic, diverse, and shaped by complex interconnections between newcomers and long-established residents.

Kyra Tomay, Gusztáv Nemes,

Category: Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: precarious housing, homelessness, housing commodification, displacement, housing inequality

Debates around the topics of precarious housing and homelessness center around reemerging questions on housing markets and housing (in-)equality. Decreasing housing affordability and increasing tenure insecurity intensified under ongoing processes of commodification and state deregulation in recent years. Not least because of the COVID pandemic and a seemingly permanent state of political and economic crisis, the current housing market situation increasingly puts tenants under pressure. While studies of housing precarity remain highly context-sensitive, broader power relations intensify the vulnerability of tenants along markers of gender, race/ethnicity, or class. Rental driven inequalities not only affect low-income households and migrants, but newly entangle long-time and seemingly secure tenants. Increasing rents and rental arrears displace vulnerable tenants from their homes who find themselves in challenging situations that can result in homelessness and intensify prolonged housing instability. This session will focus on the central significance of newly emerging forms of housing precarity and homelessness as well as tenants’ different experiences in changing urban contexts. Contributions should explore geographies of homelessness and precarious housing which are tied to the commodification of housing markets and increasing housing inequality. The following questions serve as topical guidelines for submissions: How do tenants navigate different forms of precarious housing and ways in, out, through or around homelessness? How do tenants experience housing inequality and respond to their changing housing situations? How do tenants secure their survival and which strategies do they apply to deal with increasing housing market pressures? Who has the right to dwell and benefit from social services, and who is excluded? How do housing policies, public interventions, and different actors on housing markets reposition tenants? And how do these dynamics affect the reconfiguration of urban areas (e.g., segregation, residential mobility patterns)? The aim of this session is, therefore, to apply a holistic perspective to the topics of housing precarity and homelessness. We welcome contributions on empirical studies, conceptual considerations, innovative methodological approaches, or political interventions.

Judith Schnelzer, Philipp Schnell,

Category: Human Geography, Physical Geography, Regional Geography
Keywords: Integrative geography, human-environment-relations, sustainability, human and environmental health, hazards and risks

Integrative geography is often seen as the (“third”) branch of geography where human and physical geography overlap to explore society-nature and human-environment-relations, including critically questioning the underlying dichotomies of such relations. In contrast to the popular emphasis on the integrative character of geography, the integration of the different perspectives seems to be rare in actual geographical research. This session aims to provide a platform to present and discuss integrative geographical research with a particular focus on challenges of a changing Europe. We invite suggestions for paper presentations that ideally combine perspectives of physical and human geography. Topics may include – but are not limited to – problems of sustainability, human and environmental health, natural hazards and associated risks, effects of environmental changes on human activities and social structures.

Ronald Pöppl, Ulrich Ermann,

Category: Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: socio-spatial inequalities, residential segregation, disadvantaged neighbourhoods, urban policy, area-based initiatives

Since the Great Recession of 2008, social inequalities have tended to increase across European cities. This trend is related to the evolution of residential segregation in major urban areas, where social groups are spatially separated according to their access to housing (Maurin, 2004; Secchi, 2010; Tammaru et al., 2016; Van Ham et al., 2021). Consequently, lower-income groups have increasingly concentrated in neighbourhoods where housing is relatively more affordable. These areas typically feature low-quality housing stock, urban deficiencies, limited service provision, and reduced accessibility. The social, economic, and political consequences of concentrating the most vulnerable populations in disadvantaged neighbourhoods have been extensively studied (Massey & Denton, 1988; Sampson, 2004; Nel·lo, 2021; Blanco & Gomà, 2022). In response to these challenges, several European countries have implemented area-based initiatives (ABIs) aimed at improving living conditions in disadvantaged neighbourhoods and addressing the causes and effects of urban segregation (Musterd and Ostendorf, 2023).

This thematic session aims to facilitate an exchange of experiences and knowledge on the following key aspects related to urban segregation and rehabilitation policies:

• The relationship between spatiotemporal inequalities and urban segregation, and how they have evolved over time.
• The structural and contextual factors influencing segregation in European cities.
• The evolution of segregation patterns and the social groups involved in these processes.
• Innovations in methodologies for studying urban segregation and their implications.
• Innovations in urban rehabilitation policies, including approaches, actors involved, targeted populations or neighbourhoods, resources mobilised, and the management of policy effects.
• Innovations in policy analysis, including ex-ante, ongoing, and ex-post assessments.

This session seeks to foster a comprehensive understanding of these issues, promoting the exchange of ideas and strategies among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers involved in addressing urban segregation and promoting more equitable urban polices.

Oriol Nel·lo i Colom, Mar Esteve-Güell, Andrea Visioli,

Category: Human Geography, Migration Studies
Keywords: Mobility, immobility, left behind areas

The aim of the proposed session is to discuss the question of being mobile or immobile in left behind areas from different perspectives. We focus on the municipal/regional dimension of left-behindness and concentrate on the wide variety of forms of (im)mobility, i.e. temporary, permanent and circular, commuting, digital mobility etc. How far is (im)mobility in that sense part of an individual coping strategy in left behind areas and, thus, a step to a problem solution for stayers and movers and, not least the community or region as a whole? We welcome empirically as well as theoretically informed contributions from scholars of all fields of (im)mobility/migration studies.

Daniel Göler, Jennifer McGarrigle,

Category: Migration Studies, Population Geography
Keywords: Geopolitics of immigration, geopolitics of security, geopolitics of population

Migration and security are central themes in the geopolitical dynamics of contemporary Europe. Particularly in an international arena that the proponents of this session have described as disordered due to its instability, fluidity, and chaos, marked by rapid and profound economic, political, and social changes.

This session aims to provide a critical overview of the connections between migratory flows, border management, and security policies. It will examine how different models of border governance and migration management have been shaped by growing concerns about national security and social stability. At the same time, the mechanisms of solidarity and the tensions between EU member states will be analyzed. The impact of migration crises on political unity and regional cooperation will be highlighted. The relationships between member states intertwine with the complexity of ongoing conflicts, including the one between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Europe lacks a common foreign policy, and the severity of the international situation reveals very different positions on the current conflicts. In particular, with regard to the issue of military aid to Ukraine and the use of European-supplied weaponry on Russian territory, there are irreconcilable differences. The idea of a European army is increasingly becoming a crucial element for greater cohesion among EU member states.

The session will also be open to contributions and analyses on the evolution of population geography and cultural changes, which raise questions not only of physical security but also of identity security. The debate will be enriched by considerations on radicalization, integration, and inclusion policies, seeking to understand how European states and institutions balance security needs with respect for human rights. The overall goal is to offer new interpretative frameworks and perspectives for understanding the future of European geopolitical relations in an increasingly interconnected and complex context.

Maria Paola Pagnini, Giuseppe Terranova,

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: Practice theory, social change, rural studies, ruralities, socio-ecological transformation

With the practice turn, the geographical discipline is experiencing a (re)focus on socially established routine actions. Daily human activities, as well as the interconnected, persistent material artifacts, are central from this theoretical viewpoint to understanding societies. Simultaneously, the world, particularly Europe, is undergoing a set of dynamic changes, like the anthropogenic alterations of the geo-ecological sphere or the ongoing political shift towards the right, as this year’s EU elections have made strikingly clear.

Against this background of a seeming contradiction between rapidly changing environments and the realignment towards established, seemingly static practices through practice theory, we want to raise the following central question for this session:

How can we examine change with practice theory?

Do we conceptualize change as something intrinsic to the components of practice or external forces acting on practices? How can practices change in the sense of leverage points for a socio-ecological transformation?

This session’s spatial focus is on European rural areas, which are often labeled as ‘lagging’ spaces of continuity while simultaneously undergoing rapid changes, such as agricultural restructuring or recent reappropriation by urban dwellers. We invite contributions that engage with the relationship between (socio-ecological) transformation and practice theory from both theoretical-conceptual and empirical perspectives, particularly those addressing change in rural areas.

We furthermore invite contributions reflecting on the potential of practice theory for changing the geographic discipline, e.g. through the consideration of tacit and embodied knowledge, aspects which have been lacking attention in geographic research so far.

Jacob Heuser, Anna-Maria Brunner, Carlotta Sauerwein-Schlosser, David Segat,

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: Political Ecology, Decolonial thought, Decolonial Methodologies, Geographical Epistemologies, Critical Geographies

In recent years, the debate in political ecology has begun to address the problem of knowledge reconfiguration, especially for the understanding of socio-ecological crises (Bini, Capocefalo, Rinauro, 2024). In this debate, the problem of the highly colonial nature of the categories used in research has re-emerged. Classical ecology has established itself as a fundamental science for the core areas of world-systems and for the maintenance of the patterns and life standards of Western metropolises. According to Malcolm Ferdinand (2023), ecology established itself in strongly colonial terms, providing a perspective on nature inherent to colonial processes of world appropriation. In a recent conversation with Ishfaq Hussain Malik (Malik, 2024), Paul Robbins returned to this issue, arguing that political ecology needs to address the questions of how knowledge is produced, but also the political consequences of a decolonial discourse, starting by that of land ownership.

In which direction are political ecology studies going? How is the category of limit changing in relation to ongoing wars? Can political ecology become an analytical proposal to accompany the processes of decolonisation of knowledge?

Lise Desvallées, Xavier Arnauld de Sartre and Christian Kull (2022) identify the epistemic communities of political ecology, by isolating two major groups in the recent debate, one deconstructivist and the other ‘advocacy-oriented’. Their study concludes that research in the field of political ecology, especially in Europe, is moving towards degrowth and radical activism, separating itself from an approach that is termed classical, which is more theoretical and directed towards analysis on the ground.

The panel aims to discuss changes in recent debates and research practices, by discussing contributions on:

– Epistemic communities of political ecology

– Research methodologies and colonial and extractivist epistemologies

– Ecological conflicts

– Experiences of community research or collective knowledge production

– Decolonisation of study and research practices

– Reinterpretation of the categories of ecological debate

References

Bini V., Capocefalo V., Rinauro S. ed., (2024). Geografia e ecologia politica. Memorie Geografiche, vol. XXIV.

Desvallées L., Arnauld de Sartre X. e Kull. C. A. (2022). Epistemic communities in political ecology: critical deconstruction or radical advocacy?. Journal of Political Ecology, 29: 309-340.

Ferdinand M. (2022). Decolonial Ecology: Thinking from the Caribbean World. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Malik I. H. (2024). Can political ecology be decolonised? A dialogue with Paul Robbins. Geo: Geography and Environment, 11:e00140.

Valerio Bini, Isabella Giunta, Salvo Torre,

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: care, employment, compatibility of paid and care tasks, feminist geography, gender-sensitive urban planning

Feminist critique of capitalist patriarchy has long included a critique of space and planning practices that prioritise the needs of paid employment over those of caregiving even though one cannot exist without the other. It was argued that the built environment, along with gendered norms and stereotypes, discouraged carers – mostly women – from taking up employment. Nowadays, compatibility of paid and unpaid care tasks (or: the lack thereof) has become an increasingly important issue for people of all genders. This ‘double burden’ often results in mental overload or even illness for the individual carer, and an increased outsourcing of care tasks into – often precarious – paid labour on a societal level. Municipalities all over Europe have initiated ‘gender-sensitive’ or ‘family-friendly’ planning projects, which have not only made the life of caregivers easier, but also advanced feminist debate. Interestingly enough, however, few projects (practice or research) seem to discuss the interdependency of productive and reproductive tasks or relate planning to the systemic problems produced by the demands and contradictions of capitalism. In our session, we aim to link the spatial and the structural and ask how urban, suburban and rural living and working environments would look and feel like if they were to enable healthy caring as well as work relationships. We welcome contributions that engage theoretically as well as empirically with the work-care-nexus. Which differences are there between gender-sensitive, family-friendly and care/compatibility-oriented planning? How do different actors interpret and engage with these topics? (How) can care and employment take place in a none-overstraining manner? Which actors – public, private and civic – would have to work together in order to achieve this? We want to hear about initiatives that create care/compatibility-oriented conditions as well as about the coping strategies of individual carer-employees. Potential presentations can focus on, but are not limited to, housing (environments), the public and green spaces, all kinds of infrastructure and mobility, and not least the creation, flexibilisation and spatial organisation of employment that really is compatible with care. We especially invite proposals that advance intersectional perspectives. We look forward to discussing more inclusive, equitable and caring urban futures together!

Henriette Bertram, Sarah Mente, Johanna Niesen,

Category: Cartography
Keywords: Geopolitics, Political Geography, Early Modern Geography, Historical Cartography, Early Modern Geopolitics

The session aims to bring together scholars who, from different perspectives, are investigating authors, cartographic representations, political theories and interpretations of the early modern age (16th-17th centuries) from a geopolitical perspective.

Starting from a lively debate on the topic, which in both the historical and geographical spheres has become particularly fervent and highly topical in recent years, the primary objective of the session is to stimulate academic discussion in an interdisciplinary sense around the geopolitical dynamics that have unfolded since the early modern age. The European opening to global spaces through political treaties, concrete actions and trade routes; the political spatiality that was determined with the rise of nation states; the conflict dictated by the primacy of the territorial factor; the increasing relevance of borders in relations between states; political realism as an emerging theory for interpreting political modernity; and cartographic representation as an indispensable tool for political projects within and outside the European context, have determined the fundamental contours and the foundations of what we now call “geopolitics”.

There is in fact a geopolitical dimension of the Early Modern Age that still needs to be properly explored and that can represent a fruitful field of dialogue of enormous scientific interest for the community of scholars of political geography, historical cartography, history of exploration, history of the modern age, political philosophy and economic history.

Contributions concerning the geopolitical dimension of early modernity will therefore be welcome, both in its historical dynamic and in the theoretical-conceptual dynamic of authors who have emphasised the geopolitical features emerging in political thought between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In addition, contributions will be considered that highlight the geopolitical dimension proper to emerging globalisation and historical issues of the early modern age, cartographic representations and the production of maps, atlases and globes, political authors and theories, territorial expansions and border diatribes.

Prof. Alessandro Ricci (Università di Bergamo, IT),

Category: Human Geography, Physical Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: Urban Rivers, Fluvial systems, Urban-River interactions, Greeening, Renaturalization, Anthropocene

Coming from the successful session set up in the 9th EUGEO congress in Barcelona, in which this topic had more than 30 presentations, we would like to keep this congress as a place of interaction of human and physical geographers to expose, analyse and discuss the effects of the Anthropocene actions in water and, more specifically, in fluvial urban systems.

On this occasion, we would like to centre the topic of the session on the recuperation of altered river systems in urban areas. A strong debate between greening or renaturalization of urban rivers is undergoing, and it is highly likely that no clear answer to this debate could be established (Farguell and Santasusagna, 2024).

Greening refers to the creation of new green areas in cities for leisure purposes, priorizing the sociability of the river space. These projects usually enjoy great social acceptance as they are seen as a way of using the river space as a healthy environment which provides environmental, educational and leisure values. However, this position often forgets that the river is an active geomorphic agent that changes according to rain events, transports water and sediment, and needs more space than that one provided within an urban area.

On the other hand, renaturalization focuses on the restoration of its ecological functioning and structure by improving the water quality of the river, recovering the natural regime, or the hydro-geomorphological processes involved. This approach often limits the accessibility of people to the river because priority to natural fauna and flora development, and river channel shape conservation is given. Despite it, it also increases the quality of the river environment and hence, the quality of the city itself.

Under these premises, in this session we would like to draw your attention on the presentation of cases involving greening, renaturalization or other situations that improve somehow the river sections flowing through a city, and how the cities cope with the interaction of river systems flowing through them during extreme events.

Farguell and Santasusagna, 2024. Urban and Metropolitan Rivers. Ed. Springer, ISBN: 978-3-031-62640-1, 306 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-62641-8

Joaquim Farguell, Albert Santasusagna Riu,

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography
Keywords: Climate change, Nature, Political ecology, transition

Ongoing climate change has profoundly challenged the concept of nature and its role in societal development. This challenge arises from a growing awareness and acceptance of the loss of what we define ‘nature’ due to human activities and their impacts on the climate. Simultaneously, the boundaries between nature and society are increasingly blurred, as societies feel a deepening connection to ‘nature’ and seek innovative solutions to reshape it.

This session aims to explore potential ‘solutions’ offered by transitional pathways that question the relationship between society and nature, as well as the conflicts and the new hybridizations that emerge in these processes. We invite diverse methodological and theoretical approaches, while grounding our discussions in the social nature debate, referencing authors like Castree and Braun (2001). We particularly welcome contributions from more-than-human geographies, biopolitics, and political ecology that critically engage with these themes and discuss the way the concept of nature is reshaped in climate change.

Key questions guiding this discussion include:

1. How are we coping with the ‘mourning of nature’ due to climate change?
2. Given the escalation of impacts related to climate change, what could it mean to inhabit a planet ‘without nature’?
3. Is the practice of ‘reproducting nature’ beneficial for ecological transition?

Sara Bonati, Eleonora Guadagno, Ginevra Pierucci, Marco Tononi,

Category: Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: well-being, care mobilities, public space, urban design

Urban environments shape the everyday lives of individuals through their design, accessibility, and affective experiences–posing increasing challenges to shifting demographics of Europe, particularly vulnerable groups and individuals that include (but not limited to) ageing populations, lonely youth, and migrant ethnic[1] [u2] ities.

As sites of diverse interactions and pressures, European cities are increasingly called upon to enact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by local and global agendas in efforts to adapt settlements and transform approaches towards inclusive, safe, and resilient human-environment engagements. These include enhancing the capacity of public spaces to facilitate good health and wellbeing (SDG 3)and contribute to sustainable communities and cities (SDG 11).Creating and/or optimising spaces that accommodate care tasks and foster mental and physical wellbeing in public space —including sidewalks, squares or public transportation stops— has become particularly important for improving the life quality of more vulnerable social groups whose needs are often overlooked in urban planning.

By focusing on the intersection of care, accessibility, sustainable development, and affective experiences, this panel will explore how urban design can support the well-being of diverse populations in cities undergoing demographic and environmental transformations. We welcome papers that address (but are not limited by) the following research themes and questions through theoretical and methodological reflections and empirical case studies.

• Affective Experiences and Well-Being in Urban Spaces: How do the everyday lived experiences of built environments influence mental and physical well-being, particularly among vulnerable groups like the elderly, children, and caregivers whose needs are often overlooked in urban planning? What role do material and sensory design elements (e.g., soundscapes, greenery) in urban spaces play in shaping affective experiences for positive well-being?
• Public Space Accessibility and Care Responsibilities: How are European public spaces being adapted to accommodate the needs of an ageing population and those who provide care? What urban design interventions ensure that spaces are easily accessible, safe, and facilitate the mobility of caregivers and -receivers? Which new approaches to urban planning and design can support both individual autonomy and collective care?
• Urban Design for Mental and Physical Health: How can urban planning and design directly contribute to the overall mental and physical health of inhabitants? What role do aesthetic experiences, such as the presence of architectural heritage sites play in fostering healthier urban environments? How can the design of public spaces provide relief from urban stressors, encouraging restorative experiences that promote both physical activity and mental well-being?

Maria Lindmäe, Mizan Rambhoros,

Category: Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: Degrowth, Eco-feminism, Care, Commoning, Spatio-temporal infrastructures

While policies for the green transition are advancing and entering the lived realities of people across Europe and beyond, often they are contested as socially unjust and, consequently, also ecologically ineffective. Policies for urban greening can result in green gentrification or ‘islands of sustainability’, with socio-ecological impacts shifted elsewhere, e.g. the scaling up of renewable energy production leading to green sacrifice zones. This produces tensions between a clean energy techno-fix policy focus in the context of increasing social inequalities and declining ecological conditions. As a consequence, the risk of political backlash against policies for a green transition is increasing, largely as a result of mainstream green policies focusing on efficiency over sufficiency. Where efficiency means treating the ecological crisis as a technical problem to be ‘solved’, while sufficiency considers the need to secure a just distribution of resources to meet everyone’s needs within ecological limits.
These logics of efficiency are inherent in capitalist, growth-oriented economies, whereas (eco-)feminist, de- and post-growth perspectives highlight the need to center social reproduction and care as essential for both social and ecological justice. Considering the implications of these approaches on different spatial scales, we consider:
How can we extend the idea of the right to the city to become a right to the socio-ecological city – or space -, overcoming false contradictions between ecological sustainability and social justice?
Which spatio-temporal infrastructures and policies are needed at different spatial scales to design a just and socially desirable socio-ecological transformation beyond growth?
We welcome both conceptual and empirical contributions that discuss specific social infrastructures and policies such as
– social reproduction as social infrastructures
– commoning practices of care and provisioning
– collective governance and ownership of land
– public housing and public space
– solidary systems of food provisioning, e.g. community supported agriculture, fair trade
– sufficiency-oriented policies on land use and mobility and their interaction
and more
and assess their role for a just socio-ecological transformation.

Karl Kraehmer, Sarah Ware,

Category: Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: urban violence, urban (in)security, everyday experiences, gender

(In)Security and violence have become pressing issues in big and small cities across the globe; safety issues are put at the top of the political agenda and are recognized by urban planners and the market alike, as military expenditures are skyrocketing even in times of peace. Culminating in a new military urbanism, cities are not merely the backdrop for this development, but they increasingly function as laboratories for contemporary (urban) security governance. Security measures are usually based on a notion of security as a good or condition that is achievable through adequate means; most often, surveillance, police presence, access control, the privatization of security services and, put simply, the restriction of democratic freedoms in exchange for a promise of security.

While in the prevalent urban security discourse, there is usually a demand for “more security”, there is in fact little knowledge about the mundane, long-term effects of security measures and how groups of people are affected differently by security practices. Particularly feminist researchers from the fields of urban studies and security studies have problematized narrow and simplifying definitions of security because they fail to account for the complexity and ambiguity of how security “works” in everyday urban spaces. Complicating urban security knowledge, critical and feminist research centers on how (in)security is experienced and constructed in the everyday lives of urban dwellers who are affected or targeted by security measures. What happens, for instance, when security efforts do not curb violence, but instead lead to a simultaneity of violence and security measures that neighborhoods and their residents are confronted with? What kind of security is implemented in what kind of spaces? How are spaces of violence, (in)security and peace dynamically intertwined and exist next to each other?

In addition to addressing these questions, possible themes for this session include:

• Empirical studies of different European contexts, e.g., French banlieues, Swedish suburbs or the recent far-right riots in the UK

• Community-based security initiatives and bottom-up security

• Innovative methodological approaches to studying long-term effects of urban violence and (in)security

• Theoretical frameworks for studying urban violence and (in)security particularly in European cities

• Interdisciplinary contributions

Dr. Josefa Maria Stiegler (Austrian Academy of Sciences, AT),

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography, Migration Studies, Population Geography
Keywords: migration, transnationalism, well-being, methodology

Although it has prior research foundations in diaspora studies, the concept of migrant transnationalism has introduced a fresh and innovative approach to migration research. The realization that international migrants often live in “transnational social fields,” and maintain strong economic, political, and sociocultural ties to both sending and receiving countries, has challenged the traditional understanding of migration. This multi-dimensional concept encompasses the diverse cross-border practices of migrants through which material and immaterial resources are circulated (Glick Schiller et al. 1992, Basch et al., 1994, De Haas and Fokkema 2011, Boccagni 2012, Erlinghagen 2021 etc.).

However, there is still no consensus on how to operationalize the key term, create internationally comparable datasets, and systematically study the relationship between space and migrant transnationalism. International surveys often lack relevant background information, and the results are rarely meaningful at the subnational level. Empirical studies also remain inconsistent (Kim et al. 2021), largely due to the absence of a unified theoretical and methodological framework, as well as the fact that the entire phenomenon is deeply shaped by the historical, socieconomic and geographic contexts in which it unfolds.

This session seeks to unpack the multi-faceted relationship between space and migrant transnationalism through the discussion of various topics, including the following.

– The conceptualization and operationalization of migrant transnationalism, along with the difficulties encountered in conducting empirical studies.

– Migration “corridors” and the flow of resources (e.g. economic and social remittances, investments) in the transnational space; spatial patterns and their impacts on socioeconomic and political processes.

– How transnational engagement influences individual spatial behaviour (e.g., regular visits, circular labour migration), personal relationships (e.g., family members left behind, social networks in the host country), and subjective well-being (life satisfaction, happiness).

– The way the emotional ties to multiple places shapes migrants’ identities and influence decisions regarding return migration or long-term settlement.

We invite scholars to present theoretical and empirical analyses on migrant transnationalism, with special attention to the spatial relationships. Contributions with diverse methodological approaches are welcome. Submissions may address also policy analyses that illuminate the interrelations between the key concepts.

References:

Basch, L., Schiller, N. G., and Blanc, C. S. (1994). Nations unbound: Transnational projects, postcolonial predicaments and deterritorialized nation-states. Routledge

Boccagni, P. (2012). Revisiting the “transnational” in migration studies: A sociological understanding. Revue Européenne des Migrations Internationales (online), 28(1), 33–50.

De Haas, H., and Fokkema, T. (2011). The effects of integration and transnational ties on international return migration intentions. Demographic Research, 25, 755-782.

Erlinghagen, M. (2021). The transnational life course: An integrated and unified theoretical concept for migration research. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 44(8), 1337-1364.

Glick Schiller, N., Basch, L., and Blanc-Szanton, C. (1992). Towards a transnational perspective on migration: Race, class, ethnicity, and nationalism reconsidered. New York: New York Academy of Sciences.

Kim, Y.N., Urquia, M., and Villadsen, S.F. et al. (2021). A scoping review on the measurement of transnationalism in migrant health research in high-income countries. Global Health 17, 126.

Dr. Adam Nemeth (Austrian Academy of Sciences, University of Vienna, AT),

Category: Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: culture, regional development, European Capital of Culture, rural areas

Culture has a cutting edge role in the present-day world, both regarding economic and social point of view. Although the cultural sector is often criticised by being ‘elitist’, there is an increasing intention of stakeholders to make culture accessible for everybody. Pulsing cultural life is an important dimension of attractive cities attracting young talents, and improving locals’ quality of life. Availability of cultural products and services is an important element of city branding indices, and of city rankings. The European Union puts also a great emphasis on making culture more accessible, the European Capital of Culture initiative (with more than 60 cities awarded) defines culture in the broader sense enabling culture more accessible to all social groups. More and more smaller cities and regions being European Capital of Culture implement strategies to overcome geographical barriers.

The main goal of the session is to share research results unveiling the role of culture oriented developments in regional development. From the place point of view, contributions addressing European Capital of Culture cities or regions, furthermore rural areas are welcome. Conceptual, theoretical, and methodological contributions, furthermore best practices, case studies can provide a valuable input for the discussion that seek to address the question of culture can support regional development, and by that contribute to a more sustainable future in rural areas.

Judit Sulyok, Katalin Lőrincz, Eszter Madarász,

Category: Didactics, Human Geography
Keywords: fieldwork, geography education, inclusion, ethics

Fieldwork has been described as a cornerstone pedagogy in geography education (France & Haigh 2018). An important part of educating new generations of geographers takes place outside the lecture halls. Walking tours, bus excursions, and field observations offer students opportunities to learn through first-hand experience of the field, to combine theory and practice, to observe real world places and issues alongside textbook examples. But, to what extent are fieldwork teaching practices and traditions in human geography in line with current ambitions to make higher education institutions more ethical and inclusive?

Ethical concerns include, for example, field visits to urban areas that already experience tourist overcrowding, perpetuating unequal power relations between fieldwork participants and ‘the researched’, and gazing at places that experience over research (Neal et al 2016). Additionally, awareness is needed for the many ways in which fieldwork can exclude students, from neurodivergent students being away from their routine to BAME or queer students who are at higher risk of harm in certain places or activities (Hughes 2016, Lawrence & Dowey 2022).

This session invites papers that address these issues and attempt to future proof geography fieldwork in Higher Education. The focus of the session will be on human geography in particular. While the conversation about the need for more inclusive and ethical fieldwork has gained momentum in the broader fields of geosciences and physical geography (see for example Stokes et al 2019; Mol & Atchinson 2019, Kingsbury et al 2020), there has been a relative silence with regards to human geography fieldwork since the first calls to action in the early 2000’s (Hall et al 2002; Nairn 2003). We welcome contributions focusing on new theories, pedagogies and fieldwork practices – including application of Universal Design for Learning in fieldwork design, challenges and opportunities around Gen Z students’ way of learning, using new technologies such as VR, or navigating institutional cultures around fieldwork traditions.

References:

France, D. & Haigh, M. (2018) Fieldwork @40: fieldwork in geography higher education, Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 42(4), 498-514

Hall, T., Healey, M. & Harrison, M. (2002) Fieldwork and disabled students: discourses of exclusion and inclusion, Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers 27(2), 213-231

Hughes, A. (2016) Exploring normative whiteness: ensuring inclusive pedagogic practice in undergraduate fieldwork teaching and learning, Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 40(3), 460-477

Kingsbury, C., Sibert, E., Killingback, Z. & Atchinson, C. (2020) “Nothing about us without us” The perspectives of autistic geoscientists on inclusive instructional practices in geoscience education, Journal of Geoscience Education, 68(4), 302-310

Lawrence, A. & Dowey, N. (2022) Six simple steps towards making GEES fieldwork more accessible and inclusive, Area, 54(1), 52-59

Mol, L. & Atchison, C. (2019) Image is everything: educator awareness of perceived barriers for students with physical disabilities in geoscience degree programs, Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 43(4), 544-567

Nairn, K. (2003) What has the geography of sleeping arrangements got to do with the geography of our teaching spaces?, Gender, Place, Culture, 10(1), 67-81

Neal, S., Mohan, G., Cochrane, A., and Bennett, K. (2016) ‘You can’t move in Hackney without bumping into an anthropologist’: Why certain places attract research attention. Qualitative Research, 16 (5), 491–507.

Stokes, A., Feig, A., Atchison, C. & Gilley, B. (2019) Making geoscience fieldwork inclusive and accessible for students with disabilities: Geosphere, 15(6), 1809–1825

Bouke van Gorp, Sara Brouwer, Veronique Schutjens, Dan Swanton, Charlotte Miller,

Category: Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: Protest, Social Movments

The panel is dedicated to forms of protest, social movements, the city and inequality from the perspective of urban and movement research (Mayer 2013, Daniel 2021) in the context of current challenges. It takes a closer look on protest forms and modi of organization of protest. It explores the question of what findings urban research has on inequality in urban contexts. The format is related to topics of urban sociology and interdisciplinary urban research: unequally distributed resources, opportunities to participate in decision-making processes and social movements that demand these rights. The positioning of research in these contexts and the various approaches in this context are also examined. This means that not only the aspects that structure inequality is considered, but also the actors who negotiate in decision-making processes in the city, such as planners, urban policy (Adam/Vonderau 2014; Kaschuba 2015) and social movements (Aigner/Kunig 2018; Dlabaja 2021; Holm 2014; Mayer 2013). Social inequalities manifest themselves in urban contexts in a variety of ways, along the lines of housing, labour and gender relations, but also the opportunity to vote. The opportunities to participate in decision-making processes and the design of one’s own urban environment or to appropriate spaces are also unequally distributed and are a driving factor for involving in protest movements. The panel seeks for contributions from current protest research related to climate change, commodification of housing and related to it gentrification and touristification, unequal possibilities of involvement into decision making processes. Contributions dealing with forms of protest or with the mechanisms of inequality and actor relations, as well as with the theory of social movements, are equally welcome.

Cornelia Dlabaja, Antje Daniel,

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: battlefield, memorial landscape, identity, nation-building, Europe

The armed conflicts on the eastern and southern peripheries of Europe have had a fundamental impact on European collaboration, joint efforts and, through it, on local, national and European identity. There are several well known battles that have a nation-building effect and play a crucial role in the formation of these identities, such as the Battle of Kosovo Polje in 1389 (Serbia), the Battle of Mohács in 1526 (Hungary), the Battle of Udbina in 1493 (Croatia), the Battle of Grunwald in 1410 (Poland) or the Battle of White Mountain in 1620 (Czechia), as well as the sieges of Vienna in 1683 (Austria) or Constantinople in 1453 (Türkiye) among others. From the 19th century onwards, these battlefields and sites have become an important feature of the commemorative landscape through (often competing) memorialization of different nation-states, ethnic groups, religious or other communities etc. It is particularly interesting to examine the way in which the different political groups relate to these battles and the physical imprint they left on the commemorative landscape.

The organizers are waiting for papers on battles, battlefields and memorial landscapes with significant identity-shaping effect on a local, national or European scale from a theoretical approach as well as case studies of individual sites.

Norbert Pap, Péter Reményi,

Category: Economic Geography, Geographical Information Sciences, Regional Geography
Keywords: Solar transition axes (STAs), Energy transition geography, Socio-energy systems, Renewable energies adoption barriers, Renewable energies diffusion

The global transition to renewable energy sources is a cornerstone of efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and achieve carbon neutrality. However, the spatial diffusion of renewables, including wind, solar, hydro, and biomass, has been highly uneven, both between and within countries. This session seeks to explore the diverse geographical patterns of renewable energy adoption, focusing on the institutional, socio-technical, and economic factors that either facilitate or hinder this transition across different contexts.

We invite contributions from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives, encompassing theoretical reflections and empirical case studies. We are particularly interested in papers that address:

• Spatial patterns in the adoption and diffusion of renewable energy technologies, including regional case studies or comparative analyses across scales.
• The role of institutional frameworks, policy incentives, and governance structures in accelerating or delaying the renewable energy transition.
• Socio-technical barriers and enablers, including public perceptions, political resistance, and technological innovations.
• Contributions from GIS and spatial analysis that map or model the geographic spread of renewables, identifying correlations between energy diffusion and regional characteristics such as socio-economic status, infrastructure, or physical geography.
• Insights from economic geography on how market dynamics, investment flows, and supply chains impact renewable energy systems and their spatial distribution.

This session aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and encourages submissions from geography, energy policy, environmental studies, and related fields. By incorporating diverse methodologies and perspectives, we hope to build a comprehensive understanding of the spatial dimensions and institutional challenges surrounding the global shift toward renewables.

Participants are invited to share research reflecting on renewable energy diffusion, contributing to the broader discourse on sustainable development and climate action.

Federico Martellozzo, Marco Grasso, Stefano Clò, Filippo Randelli, Matteo Dalle Vaglie,

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography, Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: urban tourism, tourism governance, socio-spatial urban dynamics, overtourism, gentrification

Urban tourism has assumed a central role in the economic, social, and cultural dynamics of European cities, reflecting the ongoing changes in the contemporary urban context (Di Bella, 2022). The role of geography in analysing and interpreting the transformations of tourist sites within cities becomes even more relevant in light of the new challenges and opportunities related to sustainability, urban regeneration, and social inclusion. For instance, the success of the city-break in contemporary tourism is the result of a complex interplay between global and local factors. On the one hand, globalization and technological innovation have made urban travel more accessible and desirable, while on the other hand, urban policies—primarily aimed at the revitalization of historic centres, the enhancement of cultural heritage, and the promotion of tourism—have contributed to strengthening the appeal of cities as tourist destinations (Ruggiero, 2008; Barata-Salgueiro et al., 2017). In this context, urban tourism has influenced the demographic trends of historic centres: initially encouraging the revaluation of these spaces, but more recently contributing to a decline in residential density due to the short-term rental phenomenon. Similarly, other temporary phenomena associated with urban tourism, such as mega events, can alter the socio-economic balance of urban centres and the everyday living spaces, which may appear fragile and limited in scale, thus being unsuitable to support new functions or accommodate high visitor flows (De Iulio, 2020).

The session aims to analyse the emerging trends and challenges that urban tourism poses to European cities, with particular focus on the sustainability and resilience of urban destinations in a context of continuous change. Contributions exploring theoretical approaches, methodological frameworks, and empirical experiences are encouraged, with a transdisciplinary perspective aimed at fostering an inclusive debate.

The session will focus on various aspects of urban tourism, including, but not limited to:

– emerging tourism practices and the impacts of tourism on urban socio-spatial dynamics;

– tourism governance and planning strategies in European cities;

– tourism as a driver of gentrification and inequalities;

– evolution of urban destinations: new models and new forms of tourism.

Simone Bozzato, Maria Grazia Cinti, Marco Maggioli, Pierluigi Magistri,

Category: Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: Production of space; Operational landscapes; Centre-Peripheries; Historical extractivism; Marginal urbanities

The notions of hinterlands, operational or extractive landscapes are at the heart of the description of centre-periphery relations, expolations and dynamics typical of the unfolding of the capitalist system. These landscapes and territories lie outside the traditional global metropolises and urban agglomerations. However, they form particular spatial and temporal interfaces of the urban and the rural. For this reason, they constitute a particularly promising field of study, which has attracted numerous disciplinary approaches in different ways – such as commodification processes historiography (Beckert et al., 2021; Moore, 2000), political ecology (Angelo & Wachsmuth, 2015; N. Heynen et al., 2006; N. C. Heynen et al., 2006) and eco-Marxism (Napoletano et al., 2018), rural studies (Ghosh, 2022; Gillen et al., 2022; Krause, 2013) and, more recently, urban studies, particularly with the perspective of planetary urbanisation (Brenner, 2014, 2016; Brenner & Katsikis, 2020, 2023; Brenner & Schmid, 2015; Schmid & Brenner, 2011).

A plethora of concepts and terms have been developed to capture these spatialities and the dynamics that shape them: extended urbanization (Monte-Mór & Castriota, 2018), desakota (McGee, 2017), agrarian urbanism (Gururani, 2023), etc.

This session aims to lay the foundations for a discussion that can overcome disciplinary boundaries and bring together distinct concepts and perspectives. To this end, we propose to adopt a precise focus: the study of (mainly) European extractive territories, through an approach that should also consider their evolution over time – the historical dimension allows us to complexify our understanding of contemporary extraction dynamics.

Indeed, European marginal territories were characterised 200 years ago by dynamics that resemble closely those to which some territories in the Global South are subjected today – such as emigration, the dominance of extractive oligarchies, expoliation of the commons, colonial or neo-colonial processes. Thus, we posit, a study of these spaces might bring up important insights on how former peripheries change their socio-economic and socio-cultural trajectories.

Among the questions that interest us are:

How has an extractive past influenced the development of contemporary territories?

How are extractive dynamics structured over time?

What continuities and differences exist between centre-periphery relations over the last two hundred years?

How has the appearance of new extractive frontiers changed the function of a territory?

How have the extractive dynamics of the past established groups and actors that continue to play a relevant role in the production of space?

The session is particularly interested in, but not limited to, European territories that have had an extractive present or past, in order to understand how this has influenced their development.

Our intention is to establish an interdisciplinary community from this session in order to continue the debate and possibly produce a series of collective publications.

Mosè Cometta, Johannes Herburger,

Category: Human Geography, Population Geography
Keywords: left behind place, repopulation, digital nomads, neo-rural, mountain areas

In recent years, mountain areas have experienced a resurgence of interest and repopulation, which challenges traditional representations of these contexts and redefines individual life projects and the collective political dimension. This phenomenon is multifaceted, with various profiles among the so-called “new mountaineers” (Corrado et al., 2014). On the one hand, there are amenity migrants, such as digital nomads, who are attracted to mountain regions due to the increasing availability of digital infrastructure, and neo-rural, who are rediscovering traditional professions linked to mountain territories, such as agriculture and shepherding (Jelen et al., 2024). Additionally, we have been witnessing families fleeing urban environments, retirees, and artists, who have in common the desire to become “mountaineers by choice” (Dematteis, 2011).
People moving to or returning to mountain life often pursue lifestyles that echo historical patterns of mountain living. In the past, the seasonal nature of certain jobs led to a lifestyle characterized by a diverse range of occupations, frequent mobility, temporary living arrangements, and multi-residentiality (Perlik, 2011; Weichhart, 2009). However, these traits are reappearing in the lives of new mountaineers due to different processes.
For geography, these emerging lifestyles offer valuable insights into the field’s long-standing yet highly relevant themes. The study of diverse and alternative economies (Gibson-Graham, 1996; 2006) often associated with mountain living sheds light on experiences typically seen as marginal or residual. Furthermore, the role of digital technologies in enabling the mobility of digital nomads in non-urban settings—through the proliferation of remote workstations and coworking spaces (Akhavan et al., 2021; Burgin et al., 2021)—reveals the development of new digital geographies. These connect new mountaineers to both their physical surroundings and a more comprehensive network of supralocal relationships. Finally, alternative forms of tourism, such as the “albergo diffuso” (scattered hotel), encourage new forms of hospitality that engage tourists with local communities and landscapes (Varani et al., 2022).
This session aims to explore the diverse ways of living in the mountains, focusing on themes such as temporality, mobility, and occupational flexibility, and developing a framework for understanding the phenomenon through concepts, theories, and methods.

Nicolò Fenu, Paolo Giaccaria, Samantha Cenere,

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography
Keywords: rural landscape, land concentration, monocultures, loss of biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, common agricultural policies, climate change

The European rural landscape, a diverse mosaic of cultures, traditions, and ecosystems, has been undergoing profound transformations in recent decades. Land concentration, a process in which fewer farmers own land, is reshaping the face of the countryside. This phenomenon, facilitated by the Common Agricultural Policy and globalization processes, has led to a homogenization of the landscape, with the disappearance of small family farms characterized by specific traditional cultivation techniques.
As land concentration increases, monocultures are becoming more widespread. This practice, while increasing productivity in the short term, generates a number of negative consequences for the environment and the sustainability of the agri-food systems. The excess of monocultural specialization impoverishes the soil, attacking its agronomic properties; it makes it more vulnerable to erosion and exposes production itself to the attack of pathogens. These processes undermine the ability of ecosystems to provide essential services such as climate regulation and the protection of water resources. Loss of biodiversity is the other serious consequence of these changes. The homogenization of the rural landscape, the reduction of natural habitats,and the intensive use of pesticides and fertilizers have caused a drastic decline in animal and plant species, with serious repercussions on ecosystems.
The consequences of these changes go far beyond the agricultural sector, because they threaten human health and the sustainability of agro-food systems. On the social level, they compromise the quality of life in rural areas, generate abandonment of inner areas and exacerbate territorial and social inequalities.
In light of these disruptions, we invite fellow geographers to submit contributions on the dynamics of European rural landscapes, prioritizing a diachronic perspective starting from these macro-themes:
– Agriculture and sustainability (sustainable agriculture, climate change, Common Agricultural Policy)
– Social and economic impacts (rural abandonment, quality of life, food security; the role of women)
– Transformations of the rural landscape (land concentration, monocultures, biodiversity)
– Cultivation practices, governance, involvement of rural communities

Maria Gemma Grillotti Di Giacomo, Pierluigi De Felice, Marilena Labianca, Silvia Siniscalchi, Luisa Spagnoli, Teresa Amodio,

Category: Cartography, Human Geography
Keywords: Emotional Geographies; War Zones; Soundscapes; Embodiment; Counter-mapping

This session desires first, to create a collective space for critical reflection on the violent spatialities unfolding through the current multiple and overlapping wars and genocides. Second, it wishes to contest the sensorial, emotional, visual field of violence by bringing feminist and decolonial translocal solidarities to the forefront. While war zones and genocidal violence multiplied in the African continent, the Middle East, Europe and beyond, spaces have emerged as embodied forms of resistance to militarization, colonialism, racism, and gendered violence. If emotions and embodied sensations are constitutive of war (Åhäll & Gregory 2015), the study of their multiscalar manifestations is an open and emerging field of inquiry in peace/war geographies.

This session sits at the intersection of Embodied and Emotional Geographies and Critical and Feminist War Studies contributions to the theorization of spatiality of violence and structural oppression (Dijkema et al. 2024; Murray 2016; du Bray et al. 2017; Olivius & Hedström 2021). It wishes to counter-narrate and counter-map the current multiples crises, genocides and wars unfolding globally by proposing spatial and emotional forms of resistances.

In doing so, the session explores and complexifies the links between spatio-temporalities, embodied-emotional processes and wars (Dijkema et al. 2024). It brings attention to sounds, touches, and feeling of war zones at multiples scales – bodies, intimate, geopolitical, local and global – which convey critical reflections on gendered wars such as feminicides, climate wars, racialization of space, and genocidal violence. Following Murrey (2016), the session therefore focuses on how “an attention to emotional geographies illuminates meaningful aspects of experiences of violence”. By doing so, it centers on emotions and embodiment as pivotal epistemological standpoints for the inquiry into spatial dynamics of war and the resistance formed in its wake and against its logics.

Contributions to this session might delve – among other topics – into critical feminist GIS, emotional geographies, war/peace geographies, decolonial cuerpo-territorio (Gómez Grijalva 2012), spatial feminist ethnographies, landscapes and soundscapes of war (Talebzadeh 2023), spatial militarization, embodied contestations to war in/out war zones or translocal solidarities (Lüvo 2024).

Priscyll Anctil Avoine (Swedish Defence University, SE),

Category: Human Geography, Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: Citizen Science, cities, evidence-based policies, participation, co-design, urban challenges

Over the past decade the field of Citizen Science (CS) has progressed significantly through a combination of EU-funded projects, national, regional, and local initiatives, and the use of new digital technologies.

CS, defined by the European Commission as “the voluntary participation of non-professional scientists in research and innovation at different stages of the process and at different levels of engagement, from shaping research agendas and policies, to gathering, processing and analysing data, and assessing the outcomes of research” (EC, 2020), has existed since the early 20^th century.

Initially its application was rooted in the natural sciences. In recent years, however, the digital turn (Ash et al., 2018), advancements in information technology (IT), new ways of collecting data such as crowdsourcing, digital sharing, online projects and social networks (Vohland et al., 2021) have enabled the proliferation of CS applications and projects in other fields of study (Hacklay 2015, Hecker et al., 2018) with prominent examples in urban planning (Karvonen & Van Heur 2014), and sustainable urban development (Cappa et al., 2022).

Our changing cities are experimenting with new policies, methodologies, and tools that engage citizens in problem solving, “hackathons” and co-design activities, demonstrating innovative approaches to urban challenges. Current research shows that the direct involvement of citizens in activities of data collection and analysis, and crowdsourced monitoring can generate a powerful tool to fill information gaps, raise social and environmental awareness, enhance public trust in science, and improve the influence of communities on planning activities and policies (Shade 2021). However, CS activities also face challenges related to accessibility, justice, equity, inclusion, etc. (Cooper et al., 2021) and, at the same time, have untapped potential to be explored.

To this end, this session aims to explore and critically examine the role and potential of CS uses in urban environments by addressing aspects such as community engagement; data collection and analysis; evidence-based policy development; crowdsourced monitoring; co-design, co-creation, collaboration and partnerships; local knowledge; public awareness and advocacy; and inclusivity and diversity.

References

Ash, J., Kitchin, R., & Leszczynski, A. (2018), Digital turn, digital geographies? Progress in Human Geography, 42, 25 –43.

Cappa, F., Franco, S., & Rosso, F. (2022), Citizens and cities: Leveraging citizen science and big data for sustainable urban development. Business strategy and environment, 31, 599-683.

Cooper, C. B., Hawn, C. L., Larson, L. R., Parrish, J. K., Bowser, J., Cavalier, D., Dunn, R. R., Haklay, M., Gupta, K. K., Jelks, N. O., Johnson, V. A., Katti, M., Leggett, Z., Wilson, O. R., & Wilson, S. (2021), Inclusion in citizen science: The conundrum of rebranding. Science, 372, 1386–1388.

European Commission (2020), Citizen Science – Elevating research and innovation through societal engagement, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Publications Office of the European Union, available at https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/624713

Hacklay M. (2015), Citizen Science and Policy: A European Perspective. Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Hecker, S., Garbe, L., & Bonn, A. (2018), The European citizen science landscape—a snapshot. In S. Hecker, M. Haklay, A. Bowser, Z. Makuch, J. Vogel & A. Bonn (eds). Citizen science. Innovation in open science, society and policy (pp. 190–200) UCLPress.

Karvonen, A., & Van Heur, B. (2014), Urban laboratories: Experiments in reworking cities. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 38, 379–392.

Schade, S., Pelacho, M., van Noordwijk, T., Vohland ,K., Hecker ,S. & Manzoni, M. (2021), Citizen Science and Policy. In: Vohland, K., et al. The Science of Citizen Science. Springer, Cham.

Vohland, K., Land-Zandstra, A., Ceccaroni, L., Lemmens, R., Perelló, J., Ponti, M., Wagenknecht, K. (2021), The science of citizen science. Springer Nature.

Venere Stefania Sanna, Cristina Capineri, Michela Teobaldi, Giacomo-Maria Salerno, Francesco Di Grazia,

Category: Human Geography, Population Geography
Keywords: election geography, voting behaviour, political geography

Voting behaviour has been in the focus of electoral geography for a hundred years; its relevance is equally high in the study of recently emerging democracies. The elections are a major source of legitimacy even in autocratic regimes with rigged or manipulated elections, and in countries which are switching from one type to another.

One dimension of regional differences, the urban-rural divide has become the most outstanding cleavage in the last decade. It explains many aspects of political behaviour, thus it is in the focus of attention in election times. The Brexit referendum and D. Trump’s victory in 2016 highlighted that the place of residence has a strong effect on political behaviour. In spite of growing mobility of population and the rising internet penetration rate, the urban-rural differences have increased in Europe as well as in North America.

New socio-political processes, like climate change, Covid-19 pandemic, fake news and conspiratorial theories, or the war in Ukraine also influence the election results. Their effect on political behaviour is different among countries, regions and types of settlements.

Researchers of political geography are invited to this session regardless whether they focus on the spatial patterns of voting or on the spatial aspects of other kinds of political behaviour. Papers dealing with electoral geography can analyse any (European, national, regional, local) elections at any territorial level (from the comparison of different countries till the exploration of differences between the wards of cities), and also the difference between the results of postal votes and voting polls. Topics like the connection between election results and geographical distribution of constituencies, the gerrymandering and malapportionment can also be addressed.

The session is not limited to the analyses of elections; papers on other types of political activity like participation in referendums or protest movements are also welcome. These activities are important parts of political behaviour both in democratic and authoritarian regimes.

The aim of the session is to provide a forum for different approaches to political geography and for researchers using different methods in the study of political behaviour.

Balázs Szabó (Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, HU),

Category: Geographical Information Sciences, Human Geography, Regional Geography
Keywords: Digital Geographies, Food Security, One Health, Circular Economy, Artificial Intelligence

This session delves – mainly but not only – into the transformative potential of digital technologies, geospatial data, and the integrated One Health approach to address the global challenges of food security within the framework of a circular economy. As the global demand for food continues to grow, it is crucial to rethink how we produce, consume, and manage resources, moving towards more sustainable systems that minimize waste and regenerate natural ecosystems.

Digital geographies – in the sense of using tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and big data analytics – play a key role in monitoring and optimizing land use, food production, and environmental health. These digital tools enable stakeholders to visualize and analyze complex systems, ensuring that food is produced efficiently and sustainably while minimizing negative environmental impacts.

The session integrates the circular economy model, which focuses on creating closed-loop systems where resources are reused, regenerated, and waste is minimized. By applying this concept, digital tools in general and artificial intelligence (AI) in particular, can help map out the flow of resources and waste within food systems, identifying opportunities for reducing losses, promoting regenerative agricultural practices, and enhancing sustainability. This approach is essential for creating resilient food systems that operate within planetary boundaries.

One Health, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, will also be a key focus. Digital geographies enable the mapping and monitoring of disease outbreaks linked to environmental changes and unsustainable practices in food production. This integrated approach helps ensure that food security initiatives also support healthy ecosystems and communities.

By bringing together the concepts of digital geographies, circular economy, and One Health, this session aims to highlight how innovative, data-driven approaches can shape the future of food security and sustainability.

Cláudia M. Viana, Jorge Rocha,

Category: Human Geography, Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: Tourism accessibility, Inclusive travel, Urban planning, Accessible infrastructure

The accessibility of tourism destinations has emerged as a critical issue in ensuring inclusive travel experiences for all individuals, regardless of physical ability. This session seeks to explore the intersection of geography and tourism accessibility, focusing on spatial challenges, infrastructural barriers, and policy frameworks that affect the mobility and inclusiveness of tourist spaces. While many tourism destinations promote inclusivity, disparities in accessibility remain widespread, particularly in heritage sites, rural areas, and urban settings with complex topographies. These disparities not only exclude individuals with disabilities but also affect elderly travelers, families with young children, and other groups with specific mobility needs.

We invite contributions that examine a wide range of accessibility-related topics from a geographic perspective. These may include, but are not limited to: the spatial analysis of accessible tourism infrastructures, the role of geographic information systems (GIS) in assessing and improving destination accessibility, the impact of public policies and urban planning on accessible tourism, and case studies from different global contexts that highlight both successful approaches and ongoing challenges. Discussions will also cover how sustainable tourism practices can align with accessibility goals to create more inclusive environments.

This session aims to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue among geographers, tourism professionals, urban planners, and policymakers, contributing to the growing body of research that advocates for equitable and inclusive tourism for all. By addressing the geographic dimensions of tourism accessibility, we hope to inform future practices and policies that enhance the travel experience for all individuals, regardless of their mobility needs.

Frank Babinger, Ignacio Ruiz Guerra, Lourdes Susaeta Erburu, Almudena Otegui Carles, María Milagros Serrano Cambronero, Sandra Sánchez Arcediano,

Category: Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: segregation; urban micro-scale; city block; apartment block; neighbourhood

Scholars in Urban Social Geography and Urban Sociology traditionally explore and map the patterns of racial and/or social segregation and measure its intensity at the neighbourhood level. The focus on the neighbourhood level is related to the low-rise and sprawled urban context of the English-speaking world that dominated Segregation Studies for more than a century. This unilateral focus on the neighbourhood level has led to neglecting segregation at spatial levels below the neighbourhood.

Academic interest on micro-segregation –i.e. on the social or ethnoracial hierarchies formed at the micro spatial scale of apartment or building blocks– emerged recently and attracted some attention, especially from scholars working on urban contexts where the analysis of segregation at the neighbourhood level was not enough. Research on micro-segregation has brought new questions for segregation studies, especially regarding the impact of social hierarchies at the micro scale on social reproduction, and gave new dimensions to the questions on the nature and assessment of social mix.

In this session, we invite presentations providing further evidence of micro-segregation in different urban contexts around Europe. The proposed presentations are expected to focus on the forms of micro-segregation (e.g. vertical social and/or ethnic segregation within apartment blocks; social and/or ethnic segregation between apartments at the front and back of apartment blocks; social and/or ethnic segregation between adjacent but different types of housing provision [e.g. public versus private] and/or different types of housing stock [e.g. old versus new built or high-rise apartment blocks versus single houses]; etc. and/or on the underlying processes that produce it and on the impact of micro-segregation on the reproduction of urban social inequalities.

Thomas Maloutas, Stavros Nikiforos Spyrellis,

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography, Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: mining, extractivism, left behind places, peripheralization, narratives

In the context of the European Critical Raw Materials Act in 2023, the member states of the EU have emphasized their efforts in securing access to crucial raw materials for the European Green Deal. The aim is to reduce dependency on other states in importing specific raw materials by extracting them locally and to achieve more autonomy. The Act focuses on those materials that are needed for a carbon neutral future (e.g. lithium, copper or others). The implementation of this energy policy is reflected in the proliferation of new mining projects in Europe.

New mining projects are highly speculative promises: there is a need for large scale investments before extraction can begin in order to fulfill all the legal and environmental requirements; prices for raw materials are generally rising, particularly in the context of energy and mobility transformation, which means that certain sites of extraction can become profitable. But the speed of technological innovation means that the long-term increase in demand for some critical raw materials is uncertain.

Many deposits of critical raw materials appear to be located in historical mining areas that have been undergoing structural change, peripherization, social weakness and often a rise of populism that reflects a lack of confidence in institutions and political decisions. New mining projects raise new hopes for development as well as fears for ecological damages.

How do local and other actors discuss the future in the context of new mining projects in left behind places? Which imaginaries and narratives emerge at local and regional level? Whose dream is new raw material extraction? Who is thought to win or loose though extraction? Who are the actors of raw material extraction? How and which conflicts emerge around these new mining futures? How do new mining futures re-negotiate centralities and peripherality geographically?

This session will bring together contributions based on theoretical insights and case studies, reflecting the diversity of mining futures in a changing Europe.

Helene Roth, Nina Gribat,

Category: Urban Studies
Keywords: Mass housing, housing estates, vertical cities

Housing estates have been built worldwide, and if we look at them in Eastern and Western Europe, there are far more similarities than differences. Their origins are common, their construction was inevitable and there are no fundamental differences in their causes. They were all built to address the housing shortage in the short term. Looking at the architectural evolution of mass housing programmes after the Second World War, we find that they replicate to some extent the post-World War I situation: gradually moving from suburban neighbourhoods to large housing estates on the periphery, and the same can be said of the urban ideologies and architectural techniques used. In Europe, housing estates thus became widespread, and in many countries, they constitute an important segment of the housing market. In recent decades, the issue of high-rise housing estates has often been the focus of urban geographical, architectural, and urban planning discourses, and more recently, a new mainstream urban paradigm, the theory and practice of vertical cities have grown out of this issue. This session aims to bring together and present current research on mass housing, high-rise housing estates, and vertical cities, including social, economic, and urbanistic issues, housing market processes, and anything else.

Dr. Tamas Egedy (Budapest Business University, HU),

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: electoral geography, Europe

The session will include as well empirical contributions to the electoral geography of Europe as more theoretical papers, for instance on the respective contributions of sociology and geography to the understanding of the electoral patterns. A specific attention should be given to the changing electoral patterns in the metropolitan areas, in the former manufacturing areas, in the peripheral regions, etc. Contributions should be proposed at different scales, including the interest of studying the same phenomena at different geographical scales.

Christian Vandermotten, Gilles Van Hamme,

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: comparative research, commodification, touristification, housing affordability

This session aims to critically explore the evolving dynamics of housing markets and systems in cities across Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, regions that represent the semi-periphery of Europe. While extensive research has been conducted on housing in Western European cities, these regions remain comparatively understudied. The session addresses this research gap by focusing on the specific housing transformations occurring in these areas.

Housing dynamics are understood as the result of global processes, such as the financialization, commodification, and touristification of housing, combined with local, context-specific factors, including welfare state models, institutional frameworks of urban planning, and the legacies of historical transformations. The session will also explore how cities in these regions are navigating significant challenges, such as insufficient affordable housing, a high price-to-income ratio, residential segregation, discrimination, and underdeveloped rental systems.

We welcome empirical and theoretical contributions that examine:

– The impact of financialization on housing affordability and access;

– The role of touristification in reshaping urban neighborhoods and housing supply;

– The persistence of post-socialist legacies in contemporary housing systems;

– Comparative analyses of housing policies and planning frameworks across the region;

– The influence of migration and demographic changes on housing demand and urban transformations;

– Other related issues concerning housing and urban development.

This session will provide an interdisciplinary platform for scholars and practitioners to engage in comparative discussions, deepening the understanding of the complex housing dynamics in this under-researched region. It also seeks to propose actionable insights for addressing housing challenges in these rapidly evolving urban environments.

Ivan Ratkaj, Robert Musil, Aljoša Budović, Nikola Jocić,

Category: Physical Geography
Keywords: Toponyms, Physical Geography, Geomorphology, Earth Surface Processes

Toponymy is the discipline that systematically studies the names of a place, looking to identify their meaning and origin.

In the study of the landscape, place-names are very important for the geographical insight needed to better understand the relationship between man and the environment.

Toponymy is a line of research widely used as a tool for geographical studies in different environmental contexts. Geographical studies have already categorised place names into three main categories: physical geography, human geography and socio-economic geography.

This session aims to stimulate research that associates toponymy with the physical-geographical features of the landscape, sometimes even suggesting a level of hazard or scientific, scenic, landscape or cultural singularity.

In fact, there are many different place-names attributed to the types of landforms, to slope processes such as accelerated erosion, landslides and debris-mud flows, and to volcanic, glacial, karstic, fluvial and coastal morphologies. Sometimes the toponymy also suggests useful information on the geological nature of the bedrock, the hydrogeological and pedological features of the areas.

A careful interpretation of toponymy of a physical-geographical nature can also allow for the interpretation and evolution of natural processes, and could be used in spatial planning activities, thus allowing it to be considered an effective, original and friendly tool for a more complete comprehension of the geomorphological landscape.

Andrea Ferrando, Francesco Faccini, Paola Coratza,

Category: Geographical Information Sciences, Urban Studies
Keywords: territorial revitalization, GIS, geoheritage, holistic vision

We are living with significant changes driven primarily by climate and demographic needs. Awareness of the need for behavioral adaptations is growing, but it still requires attention. Scholars are asked to identify sustainable solutions to adapt to ongoing changes. During this phase of change there are some sites that remain and that are the witness of “other evolutions” that made the world we are living today. The traces of the organisms, the body fossils and the environments of the past that the Earth preserves are a precious form of cultural heritage for understanding climate change and the evolution of the natural and anthropogenic environments. Nevertheless, they still fail to obtain adequate attention except from experts. It is still hard to accept that such sites are part of the territorial history and as such they represent a real resource to promote change in understanding and relating with the territory itself.

This special session aims to stimulate debate on balancing the need for change with the preservation of heritage.

How can we preserve these sites without turning them into mere museums? How can we effectively communicate their significance to new generations? How can we raise awareness in local communities? Contributions that address or challenge these questions are welcome to enrich the discussion on cultural heritage in a changing world.

Rosa Anna La Rocca, Filomena Ornella Amore, Romano Fistola,

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: Climate Change, Mediterranean, Agri-Food, Tropical, Political Ecology

Climate change is exerting a significant and disparate influence on the agri-food systems across the globe. At the same time the climatic and ecological impacts generated by the entire agri-food chain accentuate the instability and precariousness of agri-food systems (McGreevy et al., 2022). Attention to such questions is critical to understanding social, political and economic transformation broadly in the time of climate change (Paprocki & McCarthy, 2024). In this context, a variety of responses are emerging, which include traditional continuity, (further) agro-industrial intensification, and attempts to adapt through the introduction of new species, primarily exotic. These responses, however, give rise to significant questions in relation to the actors involved, the decision-making processes and power relations and spaces, as well as perceptions, narratives and the distribution of related risks and benefits (Moragues-Faus and Marsden, 2017; Jacobi et al., 2021).

The objective of this session is to examine the emergence of novel agri-food landscapes in Southern Europe (Mediterranean area) as a testing ground for innovative adaptive agricultural practices. This is particularly relevant in light of the IPCC (WGI 2021: 95) emphasising the likelihood of an increase in hydrological and agricultural/ecological droughts and fire weather conditions in the region.

We invite contributions that primarily investigate:

1. The socio-ecological aspects of the agri-food transition, including changes in production practices and food landscapes, and their associated territorial effects.

2. The critical assessment of adaptive agricultural practices: political ecologies, including those pertaining to water issues, the utilisation of microorganisms, and the reduction of biological control of ecosystems, will also be considered.

3. Food narratives associated with the transitions of new products that may become ‘local’ (such as tropical fruits in Southern Italy, highland vineyards, and others) through food fashions or the formation of new food cultural identities (Delatin Rodrigues & Di Quarto, 2023).

References

Jacobi, J., Villavicencio Valdez, G.V. & Benabderrazik, K. (2021). Towards political ecologies of food. Nature Food 2, 835–837

McGreevy, et al (2022). Sustainable agrifood systems for a post-growth world. Nature Sustainability

Moragues-Faus A., Marsden T. (2017). The political ecology of food: Carving ‘spaces of possibility’ in a new research agenda. Journal of Rural Studies, 55: 275-288.

Paprocki, K., & McCarthy, J. (2024). The agrarian question of climate change. Progress in Human Geography, 0(0): 1-25

Delatin Rodrigues, D., & Di Quarto, F. (2023). Sistemi agro-alimentari in transizione: gli effetti del cambiamento climatico in alcune regioni italiane. Rivista Geografica Italiana, (4).

Fausto Di Quarto, Daniel Delatin Rodrigues,

Category: Human Geography, Regional Geography
Keywords: municipalism, relational space, local governance, poverty, SDGs

Rural communities are challenged by different problems, ranging from demographic ageing, infrastructural decline and economic transformation to climate change effects or a social-cultural change of values and identification. These problems are often heterogeneous and manifest locally, preventing all-encompassing social and political solutions.

To cope with those challenges more reliably and sustainably, a tailored social-spatial governance approach appears progressive. From a spatial perspective, an exclusive territorial space paradigm is less suitable because it homogenises facts internally and tries to exclude external interrelations. Territories like municipalities are subject to competitive comparisons for economic and social profit or threatened by urban outsourcing strategies, e.g., food and energy provision. From a social perspective, prevailing market-driven or state-based approaches are less suitable as their problem-solving strategy involves an inherently top-down power relation to the local population. Centralised governance mechanisms are likely to threaten local civic and self-organised engagement.

Promoting local permeability of territorial borders and social permeability of power relations is thus an issue and can be achieved by incorporating models of relational or network space concepts (Latour 2018). They appreciate an extension of actors’ levels of autonomy by decentralising the scope of decision-making. Critical social geography discusses concepts of municipalism and communalism, aiming to establish institutions for the common good and a new relationship between municipal governments and social activist movements (Bookchin 2007). This idea aspires to promote an egalitarian interdependency between places, people, nature, and things. In addition, strategies of municipalism consider poverty prevention and social inequality reduction an explicit mission – not least by incorporating the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The session aims to explore these complex interrelations to seek the feasibility of a social-ecological transformation of rural populations at the community level. Contributions with an evident dedication to theoretical ideas, such as commons, municipalism, communalism or neo-socialism, are welcome. Papers that deal with empirical explorations into these self-determined governance mechanisms are likewise welcome.

References:

Bookchin M. (2007): Social Ecology and Communalism. AK Press.

Latour B. (2018): Down to Earth: Politics in the New Climatic Regime. Wiley & Sons.

Prof. Andreas Koch (University of Salzburg, AT),

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: agronomic production, water resources, participatory processes, resilient communities, Climate Change.

Ongoing Global Climate Change (CC) indicates that we have entered a period of persistent environmental? abnormality, characterized by more frequent and intense extreme events. These phenomena threaten both ecosystems and human settlements, as reported by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Among the most significant risks posed by CC are those affecting agriculture, particularly in terms of water availability and supply, food security, and crop yields. In this context, geographers are called upon to address new global challenges; rather than being mere observers, they must actively engage with innovative practices that can impact multiple dimensions through a combined research-action approach.

The session intends to gather both theoretical-methodological papers and application-oriented case studies that can help identify and understand best practices for developing sustainable agriculture. The goal is to exploreand safeguard traditional water systems, test innovative solutions for water management, and use more resilient genetic resources. We aim to stimulate a broad discussion, especially highlighting territorial case studies, and encourage both intra- and trans-disciplinary debate.

To facilitate this discussion, we invite authors to submit contributions particularly on the following topics:

– strategies, programs and policies (local, regional, or national) for CC adaptation in agriculture, from the perspective of sustainable rural development;

– best practices in agronomic production based on nature-based solutions, promoting efficient use of water and energy resources;

– experiences in enhancing water resources and agronomic techniques;

– participatory initiatives in urban and rural areas to build community-based agronomic practices;

– examples of circular economy, with special reference to innovative processes (sustainable processing, transformation, packaging of products, and valorization of food industry by-products);

– food storytelling practices that preserve rural and farming heritage, passing knowledge to new generations;

– slow mobility, agricultural and water landscapes that strengthen the connection between agri-food production and local cultural heritage.

Lucia Grazia Varasano, Luisa Spagnoli,

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography, Migration Studies, Population Geography, Regional Geography
Keywords: islands, sustainability, development

All regions of the world are continuously undergoing change, but in the era of globalization, these shifts are occurring at an accelerated pace and affecting different geographic areas in diverse ways. Islands, often situated on the periphery of continents or nations, tend to be less developed than their mainland counterparts and face greater challenges in managing the impacts of extreme events and processes that hinder their development. Due to their geographic isolation, islands must rely on their sometimes limited resources, with local communities playing a pivotal role in fostering sustainability. This progress depends on strong collaboration between local communities and local, regional, and national authorities. This session explores the geography of islands during a period of profound economic, demographic, and cultural transformation in Europe, with islands, as part of its periphery, being especially impacted. We encourage contributions that critically examine the challenges of island development while proposing sustainable solutions. Topics of particular interest include:

– Sustainable economic development and implementating projects aligned with SMART Islands iniciative

– Advancing the social economy

– Financiarization, real estate land grabbing and tourism

– Enhancing island infrastructure and leveraging technological innovation and digitalization

– Demographic challenges facing islands

– Dispossesion and right to the island

– Migration and its impact on island societies and spaces

– Improving healthcare and social services on islands

– Climate change, island ecology, biodiversity hotspots, limiting biophisical factors and other key issues and challenges

Other research topics related to island geography are also welcome.

This session has been recommended by the Steering Committee of the IGU Commission on Islands.

Anica Čuka, Macià Blázquez Salom, Mucahid Bayrak, Sun-Kee Hong, Patsy Lewis,

Category: Migration Studies, Population Geography
Keywords: international circular migration, circular mobility policies, circulator status, European Union, spatial levels

The session proposal deals with the international circular migration which has globally become a buzzword in scientific, political, and administrative circles since the new century. We concentrate on a general inner feature of the phenomenon which is the common root of false ideas and measures surrounding human circulation, namely their dual nature. The literature echoes wide variety of conceptualisations of international circular migration. However, the investigation and application of its dialectical characteristic is absent. On one hand, circular migration is a type of migration as a simple event, on the other hand that is a repeat process or a complete system. First aim of the session is to discuss the event-system dilemma in general and to provide an illustration with empirical evidence come from European countries in particular. Moreover, the potential authors try to contribute to the clarification of the general concept of human circular mobilities to foster scholars for sophisticated thinking and stakeholders for adequate policy making in global, regional, national, and local levels. As second aim, we propose the core elements of a new legal status by national scale, namely circulator, which is a common challenge for scientists and practitioners dealing with the arena of circular mobilities.

Sándor Illés, Éva Gellérné-Lukács,

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: Anthropocene, geographical thought, biodiversity, multispecies understanding, archives

The notion of Anthropocene defines the current planetary environmental crisis as a result of climate change, biodiversity loss, and the sixth mass extinction. On the one hand, we see physical changes and disruptions of existing landscapes, with consequences on global mobilities, lifestyle patterns, and activities. On the other hand, we see the re-negotiation of places and imageries, along with the emergence of new human-environment interactions to support multispecies understanding as an alternative to human-centric views of the World. In Geography, the Anthropocene encompasses ontological and epistemological shifts in the way we understand and engage with places and spaces. Existing parameters that frame geographical thought are being replaced by alternative approaches that reveal the changing complexities of what we observe. To this end, geographical reflections and keywords such as vulnerability, remoteness, sustainability, sense of place, as well as the simple idea of the environment must be re-elaborated and reworked to enhance the ecologically embedded complexities of the permacrisis we currently live in. The purpose of this session is to welcome critical geographical thinking and alternative approaches that can help understand human-environment relationships in the Anthropocene and support the pursuit of equality, sustainability justice and more-than-human understandings to effectively address sustainable futures in the UN Decade of Action.

This session welcomes contributions focusing on the following:

• Different approaches to learning and understanding more-than-human interactions.
• Critical reflections on the hegemony of sustainable development mechanisms.
• Processes, practices and discourses, and multiple viewpoints involved in biodiversity, biodiversity loss, and biodiversity conservation (e.g., Indigenous biodiversities, ‘hidden’ biodiversity).
• Histories and governance of biodiversity both across Northern and Mediterranean Europe.
• Artistic and Citizen Science approaches on biodiversity and relevance for geography research.
• Initiatives and pedagogical approaches to comprehend biodiversity and its divulgation in geography disciplines.
• The relevance of historical and map archives, diversity vaults and mapping to enhance cross-disciplinary dialogue.

Alberto Amore, Giovanni Modaffari,

Category: Didactics
Keywords: outdoor education, fieldwork, Geography

Fieldwork is a form of experiential learning where students engage with authentic reality. When included in Geography education the purpose of the fieldwork and outdoor education in general is to provide students on all educational levels, from primary school to university, with practical, hands on experience. Outdoor education enhances students understanding of geographical concepts and processes. During outdoor education students are able to connect theory to practice, enhance spatial awareness, develop practical skills, foster environmental awareness and promote dynamic learning experience.

Throughout outdoor learning, students bridge theoretical knowledge with personal experience, enhancing their interest while refining skills in observing their immediate environment and identifying cause-and-effect relationships and interactions. When performing outdoor education activities, it is possible to differentiate learning according to student’s interests and abilities. The value of fieldwork increases when conducted in an interdisciplinary manner, as it encourages cross-curricular connections and enables a more comprehensive experience, understanding of spatial reality and better understanding of complex scientific concepts. The objective of this session is to examine teachers’ and student’s attitudes and experiences during outdoor education connected to geography teaching and learning on all education levels.

Prof. Ana Pejdo (University of Zadar, HR),

Category: Cartography, Didactics, Economic Geography, Human Geography, Regional Geography
Keywords: Transformation, Degrowth, Utopian Imaginaries, Speculative Cartography, Collective Mapping

Degrowth is a radical and emancipatory approach to socio-ecological transformation aimed at achieving a good life for all. In light of the ongoing poly-crisis, degrowth provides a vital framework for reimagining and transforming our societal metabolism, structures, and relationships, striving for a sustainable and equitable future. However, despite strong calls for restructuring our spatial practices and relational dynamics, some scholars argue that degrowth lacks a clear spatial dimension.

To address this gap, we aim to bring together conference attendees from diverse geographical backgrounds to collaboratively “map” a degrowth future as a positive narrative for change in Europe. This initiative emphasizes the need not only to accompany and analyse change but also to actively co-envision and co-create it. To facilitate this process, we must imagine change and narrate desirable futures. In this endeavour, we will employ speculative cartography and collective mapping as forms of imaginative and intentional storytelling for transformation. By integrating collective and individual steps of reading, visualizing and reflecting, we aim to co-create visions of good futures that empower and motivate actors in the transformation process, strengthening their capacity for meaningful change.

The workshop facilitators are degrowth scholars from different disciplinary backgrounds, including Spatial Planning, Feminist Ecological Economics, and Transformation Research, and well experienced in conducting speculative workshops with conference audiences. As they read aloud excerpts from utopian speculative fiction, degrowth imaginaries and cartographic essays, participants will be invited to visualise their own associations, questions, and reflections about desirable (European) futures on a long sheet of paper (the “map”). This will be followed by a collective sharing session and a silent discussion, allowing comments and questions directly on the map. Participants will draw thematic, ecological, social, and spatial connections between various “places”, emphasising human and more-than-human interdependencies, routes of provisioning and care, sources and flows of transformation knowledge, etc. In small group discussions, participants will then explore specific “regional clusters”, aspects or questions of particular interest, which will again be visualised on the map and collectively reflected upon.

Jana Gebauer, Corinna Dengler, Luciana Maia, Lilian Pungas, Sarah Ware,

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography, Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: History of geography, Applied geography, Impact, Geography and public policy, Institutional entrepreneurship

Historically, geography has as much emerged from societal needs and questions as it was propagated through purely academic interests. Geographical societies, often populated by statespeople, industrialists, and bureaucrats played an important role in establishing geography at universities in the late 19^th and early 20^th century in many places. Similarly, needs to professionalize geographical primary and secondary education informed many priorities of the emergent university discipline.

Thus, modern geography did emerge at the border of the science-society interface. One could even argue that the discipline tends to thrive whenever this interface is successfully traversed. Consequently, geography has had longstanding debates along this axis: on the necessity to “be relevant”, on the role of “applied research” as a foundation of the discipline, and on geography and public policy (Lin et al., 2022).

The canonical international example here may be urban and regional planning, where in many contexts geographical research played a pivotal role in how 20^th century cities were shaped, but similar examples can be drawn on from ecological research, development studies, tourism geographies, heritage studies etcetera.

This session aims to highlight and compare instances of traversing the science-society interface in geographical research, both contemporaneously and historically, with the ambition of achieving a comparative understanding of this relationship. Paper topics could be about, but are not limited to:

– The tensions and synergies between “fundamental” and “applied” research

– The relationship between geography and public policy

– Strategies and critiques on “having societal impact” as geographers

– How geographers organized for societal impact

– Historical studies of impactful geographical research

Reference

Lin, S., Sidaway, J. D., Van Meeteren, M., Boyle, M., & Hall, T. (2022). Trajectories of geography and public policy. Space and Polity, 26(2), pp. 77–87.

Michiel van Meeteren, Sophie Bijleveld, Leonie Paauwe, Noor Vet,

Category: Human Geography, Migration Studies, Population Geography, Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: marginalisation, urban fragmentation, segregation, gentrification

Geographic marginalization processes are often linked to areas with physical or human limitations, particularly territories on the periphery of socioeconomic development. As a result, remote and rural areas have frequently been the focus of studies on marginality. However, urban areas —even those well-positioned in an increasingly globalized and competitive world— also exhibit processes of marginality, or micro-marginality, which often coexist with internal borders and barriers in an increasingly fragmented urban environment.

In the 21st century, cities face significant challenges, having experienced years of neoliberal policies and the repercussions of the great recession. The mobility of financial and investment capital, alongside tensions in the real estate market—often exacerbated by the rise of urban tourism and gentrification—contributes to the emergence of disconnected and fragmented urban spaces. These phenomena are key indicators of inequality and marginality within cities.

In this context, the session aims to develop a conceptual framework for analyzing urban micro-marginality and its relationship with urban fragmentation. By reviewing the most suitable techniques and methods for various scales of analysis and applying them to different case studies, the session looks to explore the causes and effects of these urban dynamics. Additionally, contributions are expected to evaluate the implementation of public policies and the roles of different stakeholders in the current complex urban scenario.

Prof. Dolores Sánchez-Aguilera (University of Barcelona, ES),

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: Literary Geography; Research Methods; European Cultural Geographies; Intercultural Dialogue

The session is the result of a dialogue between the group “Geografia e letteratura” (Geography and Literature) of the Associazione dei Geografi Italiani (AGeI) and the group “Pensamiento Geográfico” (Geography Thinking) of the Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles (AGE). Participation at EUGEO offers the chance to enhance collaboration and international academic exchange on literary geography topics. The aim of the session is therefore to welcome contributions that present different research methods and approaches in the field of literary geography. In this way, the session also enables to investigate issues related to the European cultural geographies. The potential of a fruitful dialogue between geography and literature has been widely investigated internationally, as demonstrated by a large body of literature (Brosseau 1995; Hones 2022; Neal 2015; Pocock 1981; Rosemberg 2016; Rossetto 2014). Within this intense and never-ending debate we can trace the distinction between literary geography (focused on analysing texts), aimed at studying representations of the spatial dimension, and a geography of literature aimed at understanding the relationships between literary works and the territorial contexts that produced them (Brosseau and Cambron 2003). In these works, the literary text is thus configured as an active subject in a process of social construction of reality through its capacity to contribute to the creation of shared images of spatial contexts. It cannot therefore be considered only as a source for geographical studies, but also as a subject through which a process of signification is started, or reiterated, aimed at the construction of a socially shared point of view on the complexity of geographies.

The session will therefore welcome theoretical and applied research contributions aimed at fostering discussion on literary genres, representations and spaces in which literary geography offers challenging and innovative opportunities. Specific attention will be given to contributions proposing methodological insights aimed at deepening the research fields most suitable for the geo-literary investigation of the cultural geographies of Europe.

Giacomo Zanolin, Lucrezia Lopez,

Category: Human Geography, Regional Geography
Keywords: Mediterranean, Marine Biodiversity, Islands, Human Dimension, Marine Geopolitics

Sustainable management of Mediterranean Marine Biodiversity is a key-priority of EU programmes and actions. Blue Growth Strategy, InterregMED Program, Horizon 2020 Mission Ocean, Next Generation EU have been promoting transnational cooperation, scientific research and financial support to national and regional actions on this priority. These actions and plans share one vision: integrating marine diversity protection and human activities. However, two main gaps still limit the promotion of a rigorous, salient and credible integration of the human dimension on marine biodiversity assessment and study: namely the overall lack of understanding citizens’ conceptions and misconception on the sea, and the lack (or oversimplification), both in political and scientific debate, of cultural, social and political dimensions as key drivers acting on the relationship among European citizens and marine biodiversity. The session aims to enrich the debate on these two gaps by adopting a geographical perspective. Indeed, including these themes both in scientific research and policies on biodiversity is a key element of any strategy to promote an integrated management of marine biodiversity across the Mediterranean. We define“human dimensions” of marine biodiversity as a set of behaviours, values, policies, practices, perceptions, conceptions ge (eg. LEK, political attitudes, citizen sciences, cultural and aesthetic values of biodiversity, ocean literacy, engagement of workers of small-scale fisheries and gender gaps) related to the Mediterranean as a marine region.

Contributions (theoretical or empirical) that address the following topics are encouraged:

• Local Ecological Knowledge and Mediterranean biodiversity protection
• Multiscale approaches to marine conservation and management in the Mediterranean
• Cultural, artistic and social values connected to Mediterranean biodiversity policies and actions
• Critical geoconomic of shipping, infrastructure (eg. harbours, ports, artificial coastal structures) and marine activities (across the Mediterranean)
• Human geography approach for geospatial technologies, representation, measurement activities for marine sustainability and biodiversity conservation
• Ocean literacy and blue education (across the Mediterranean)
• Gender implications of human activities across the Mediterranean (eg. small-scale fisheries, coastal and maritime tourism)
• Mediterranean small islands advocacy and the governance of biodiversity

Stefano Malatesta, Marcella Schmidt di Friedberg, Enrico Squarcina, Maria Paradiso, Clara Di Fazio, Arturo Gallia,

Category: Economic Geography, Geographical Information Sciences, Human Geography, Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: geography, innovative knowledge and approaches, sustainability, challenges, spillover effect, resilience

In recent years, Europe has confronted a series of significant challenges stemming from both regional and global processes. The spillover effect is expanding Europe’s geographies, broadening its boundaries and intensifying interactions with other regions. The ongoing repercussions of the post-COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, have led to a surge in migration and economic difficulties, particularly in food and energy markets. These crises underscore the urgent need for post-war recovery and reconstruction, while also amplifying the effects of global climate change, which are becoming increasingly evident.

This session examines the complex, interwoven crises currently facing Europe—namely, war, post-pandemic effects, economic downturns, and climate change—as a foundation for rethinking Europe’s present and future. The multifaceted nature of these societal, economic, and environmental challenges necessitates an immediate and coordinated response from a diverse range of professionals, particularly geographers. The rapid development and implementation of innovative concepts and approaches are essential pillars of resilience in this context.

By providing a platform for scholars across various geographic and related scientific fields —including human and physical geography, sustainability science, and GIS — the session aims to illuminate the ongoing and forthcoming challenges confronting Europe. It will explore how geography, as a discipline, can contribute to addressing these pressing issues. We invite speakers to share insights into the impacts of these challenges, as well as examples of innovative concepts and approaches that have already been implemented or are under development, all aimed at fostering sustainability.

Ultimately, the session aspires to foster interdisciplinary dialogue that enhances collaborative strategies for resilience in Europe. By examining case studies and theoretical frameworks, participants will engage in meaningful discussions about how modern geographic tools and methodologies can inform effective policymaking and community initiatives. This collaborative approach not only aims to address immediate crises but also seeks to lay the groundwork for long-term sustainable development across the continent.

Mariia Rastvorova, Marat Karatayev,

Category: Economic Geography, Human Geography
Keywords: Postsocialism, Transformation, Global East, Decoloniality, Resilience

In an increasingly turbulent world, marked by geopolitical instability, climate change, and deepening political polarization, postsocialist countries in what we call the Global East offer crucial insights into navigating societal transformation processes and building resilience. Modernisation discourse has long positioned postsocialist Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union as lagging behind the West in economic and political progress. This session challenges this discourse of “catch-up” development and instead presents the Global East as a region rich in practices and experiences that can inspire future transformations towards a more sustainable and equitable world.

The session will bring together interdisciplinary contributions that critically explore the transformative pathways undertaken in the Global East throughout the region’s heterogenous past and present. By examining the diverse socio-economic arrangements – which include a long history of cooperatives and solidarity economies alongside oppressive state-socialism and current varieties of neoliberal capitalism – we aim to uncover how people in these regions have negotiated their place in an ever-shifting global order. Particular attention will be paid to manifold skills and practices people mobilise in response to various societal crises, which offer building blocks for transformative worldvisions.

We invite contributors to reflect on the East-West dynamic in a more balanced and nuanced way, moving beyond the traditional binaries of underdevelopment and modernization and exploring the rich heritage of community economies on the ground. This session calls for a reciprocal dialogue to make use of untapped potential of the lessons-learned in the Global East – be it widespread practices of socio-economic resilience, (painful) experiences with societal transformation processes or living a simple yet ‘good life’ of sufficiency and quiet sustainability.

What can the West learn from the successes and failures of the postsocialist East? How have people in the Global East reimagined their own futures in ways that defy Western-centric paradigms of progress? And in what ways can a decolonial reassessment of the East-West relationship foster pathways towards a more equitable and sustainable common future? We hope that these questions will contribute to plural and inclusive worldvisions to shape future transformation processes in the Global East and elsewhere.

Lucie Sovová, Lilian Pungas, Markus Sattler, Jana Gebauer, Anja Decker, Sunna Kovanen,

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: geographical research communication, dissemination, social impact, art and Geography

If we consider that geographical research can be useful for understanding the world, also through the interconnection between the various scales, it is important to ask a question: how to communicate geographical research to a wider audience than the academic one?

Specialized academic journals and the publication of volumes by prestigious publishers, while indisputably the standard for the circulation of research within the academy, for many reasons do not seem suited to wider dissemination. More and more geographers seem to feel the need to share the results of their research and “geographical thinking” beyond the boundaries of academia. This can happen thanks to a personal predisposition for communication (e.g. media contacts), or, more systematically, through the choice of contexts dedicated to the general public (festivals, special days linked to specific themes, targeted events, etc.) or suitable publication/communication tools, often increasingly linked to typical elements of art (video, sounds, literature, photographs, comics, land art, performances and much more). EUGEO, with the International Geographical Union, also, are active in the direction of a wide diffusion, i.e. with the GeoNight initiative, and many national geographical societies include this type of communication among their activities.

This session, directly connected to the session “The Beauty of Geography”, organized in the context of the IGU Dublin 2024 Congress by EUGEO, aims to collect contributions on this topic ranging from theoretical interventions (is dissemination useful? Why? In what way? For whom? Should it be included among the objectives of a researcher or is it a “luxury” for his free time?) to concrete examples in which the broad communication of research has been attempted, achieved or is being achieved or planned. One of the session objectives is the sharing of experiences that could be interesting also in different contexts. Interventions using unusual presentations (video, audio, images and others) may also be proposed, and proponents will be asked to briefly discuss the objectives, methodologies, and results (expected or obtained).

Contributors and the audience of the session, if they wish, are welcome to collaborate with EUGEO in the perspective of its commitment on the topic.

Prof. Massimiliano Tabusi (Università per Stranieri di Siena – EUGEO, IT),

Category: Economic Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: World Heritage Cities, Private Developers, Heritage Preservation, Negotiation, Conflicts

Locally and internationally, urban heritage is a powerful vector for development and identity enhancement, as well as a lever for the tourism economy (Gravari-Barbas, 2020). While the enhancement of urban heritage has mainly been studied from the point of view of public policy and the public sector (Guinand, 2015), researchers have less explored the place occupied by private players in highly regulated and protected Unesco-listed urban sites. Yet, in a context where heritage is becoming a commodity (Berg, 2017), offering a comparative advantage to a property project, or suffering the effects of the financialization of real estate (Risager, 2021) or neglect, private actors, semi-public or non-profit entities play a decisive role in renovating the historic fabric.

In this session, we wish to highlight the role played by private actors in the process of conserving, preserving or transforming the urban heritage of World Heritage cities. Focusing on the role of private players and their relations with public authorities, the session invites to highlight recent socio-spatial transformations in World Heritage cities, characterized by increasing real estate interventions, the growth of tourism – which sometimes competes with the needs of permanent residents – and the challenges of maintaining and renovating these historic sites while dealing with considerations on sustainable development goals (Magliacani, 2023)

Considering that the heritage process is under the control of a multitude of public and private actors, and given that exchanges between them are often characterized by tensions, negotiations and multiple arrangements (Berthold & Mercier, 2015), we invite contributions shedding light on these processes in different contexts of historic cities, particularly those on the World Heritage list.

– What are the characteristics of private developers involved in World Heritage cities (origins, market positioning, project specialization, etc.)?

– What are their motivations?

– How are the tensions expressed between private developers and other urban players (public, associations, NGOs, etc.)?

– What strategies are deployed and what arrangements are made?

– Ultimately, how do private developers help shape the heritage city?

Sandra Guinand, Etienne Berthold, Maryse Boivin, Olah Gabor, Maria Gravari-Barbas, Laura Brown,

Category: Human Geography, Regional Geography
Keywords: smartification, digitalization, rural areas, regional inequalities, socio-spatial exclusion

Smartification and digitalization processes mark an ongoing societal change with important geographical implications. By ideally contributing to a more sustainable, innovative and healthier life, smartification is attributed many potentials for the future development of places. Mainly developed in urban context, we focus on the question if these promises hold true for rural areas?

The session critically engages with the prospects of smartification and digitalization in rural contexts. Moving beyond dominant readings of smartification as rather technology-, market- and urban-based, the session turns to interpretations of ‘smart’ in rural realities, paying particular attention to impacts on inequalities and processes of exclusion. Despite recently receiving more academic attention, smart rurality has often been under-recognized and subjected to an urban smartification blueprint that does not necessarily fit rural realities or undermines their agency in locally (re)interpreting smartification. Our session thus proposes to focus on the possible socio-spatial divides smartification strategies are embedded in and questions to what extend smartification strategies incl. “smart specialization”, “smart social innovations”, or “smart village/countryside” initiatives can overcome or are further perpetuating these.

We welcome both theoretical and inspiring empirical studies that contribute to a new conceptualization of smartification in non-urban contexts. The panel is meant as a discussion forum as well as a platform to bring together recent research in the field and open opportunities for future collaborations. In particular, we invite:

• critical reflections on dominant readings of smart rurality concepts and their impacts on rural areas, including proposals for new interpretations of ‘smart’, ‘development’ and ‘innovation’
• empirical studies exploring aspects of rural power, agency and exclusion in ‘smart’ regional initiatives or local digitalization projects
• empirical studies on current uses of ‘smart’ in rural areas, including uses of and interactions with particular digital technologies
• case studies that shed light on questions of inclusion, participation and under-recognized examples of rural smartification and innovation

Bianka Plüschke-Altof, Kadri Leetmaa,

Category: Didactics
Keywords: Transformative Education, Teaching Geography, Global Challenges

Today’s world is characterized by several interrelated crises, including the growing challenges of globalization, migration, climate change and global sustainability, as well as the persistence of social inequalities on different spatial scales. Education and classroom practice have to respond to these challenges not only content-wise but also with regard to the way teaching and learning are conceptualized and put into action.

In the context of geography teaching, Nöthen and Schreiber (2023: 7) next to others, lately discussed transformative education as an important concept, that has the potential to fundamentally change the way learners experience and conceptualize the world as individuals and as part of society. At the same time, transformative learning can be understood as a possibility for a collective emancipation process (Singer-Brodowski 2016: 13).

Geography as a subject, as well as Geography and economic education as it is taught in Austrian schools, seem to be particularly promising for the implementation of transformative education in schools. The key challenges mentioned above are central to the subject and its focus on the interdependencies of ‘society – economy – politics – environment’ (BMBWF 2023: 101).

The aim of the proposed session is to present and discuss how transformative learning can be realized in the geography (and economics) classroom. We would like to reflect upon possible criteria for transformative educational processes by debating illustrative examples, classroom experiences and case studies.

BMBWF (Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung) (2023): Lehrplan der Mittelschule, Geographie und wirtschaftliche Bildung. Wien. (= BGBl. II, Nr. 1 v. 2.1.2023, Anlage 1 zu Art. 3). https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2023_II_1/Anlagen_0005_602132D5_6AB7_4D68_B4E4_6CF508085BA2.pdfsig (03.07.2024)

Nöthen, E. & V. Schreiber (2023): Transformative Geographische Bildung: Schlüsselprobleme, Theoriezugänge, Forschungsweisen, Vermittlungspraktiken. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer Spektrum.

Singer-Brodowski, M. (2016): Transformative Bildung durch transformatives Lernen. Zur Notwendigkeit der erziehungswissenschaftlichen Fundierung einer neuen Idee. In: Zeitschrift für internationale Bildungsforschung und Entwicklungspädagogik 39/1, S. 13-17.

Johanna Ruhm, Christiane Hintermann,

Category: Didactics
Keywords: Environmental and sustainability education, Geography teacher education, Transformative education, Reflexivity

The implementation of environmental and sustainability education (ESE) tends to be perceived as challenging by teachers. One explanation is that the matters of ESE address key societal challenges in their urgency but are characterized by complexity, controversy and uncertainty. Current issues and concerns associated with the climate crisis can be understood as ‘super-wicked problems’, for which no simple solutions. This ambiguity is perceived as overwhelming by teachers and calls for new types of pedagogy. At a time, where the processual nature of individual and societal transformations is tangible and the adoption of a planetary perspective, i.e. engaging with diverse epistemologies and the more-than-human, to tackle the roots of current crises is being emphasized in geography, we want to explore what forms of pedagogy in geography teacher education help addressing and dealing with the described wickedness.

In this context, a common perspective in the international discourse on teacher professionalization is the high value placed on reflection and reflexivity. The appeal of reflection lies in its ability to relate theoretical and experience-based practical knowledge to each other, allowing to explicate implicit knowledge and possibly transforming ways of feeling, knowing and acting. For this to become possible, it is about creating relational spaces of learning, where meaning is created by mediation of diverse experiences, worldviews and positionalities, which are associated with broader narratives and discourses. Transformative and reflexive pedagogies therefore must be sensitive to differences and diversity, hegemony and culturality, counter-futures and utopias, but also to ethical orientation and common ground.

This session seeks to further explore such an idea of geography teacher education in ESE and is concerned with concepts, types and practices of transformative and reflexive pedagogies that move beyond education as a space of affirmation, which keeps the educational and societal status quo in place, to what Joseph (2014) calls a “space of contestation”, that is a space for possibility, exploration and experimentation that encourages prospective teachers to transgress ingrained routines through boundary-crossing, reflexive dialogue and empathy. We invite presentations that are concerned with these issues and concerns and discuss theoretical, conceptual, or empirical research as well as good practices.

Fabian Pettig, Uwe Krause, Nicole Raschke,

Category: Urban Studies
Keywords: left-behind, levelling-up, urban geography, urbanity, overlooked cities

Over the past years, academics and policymakers have re-surfaced and expanded the concept of left-behind places and levelling-up actions to diagnose and address growing socio-spatial inequalities amidst the poly-crisis of climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical and everyday conflicts. In urban research, these concepts have been appropriated, for example, to examine the changes of (former) industrial and manufacturing cities in the UK (Martin et al. 2021) and the impacts of EU structural funds on shrinking German towns (Schlappa 2017). This session aims to facilitate discussions that move beyond the perspectives of economic geography, where the challenges of exacerbating versus reducing inequalities between urban areas have been widely analysed (MacKinnon et al., 2024). Specifically, we want to focus on the implications of being (in) an intellectually and/or politically left-behind urban area to uncover experiences of neglect, overlookedness, and (lack of) attention. We put forward the term overlooked urbanities as a heuristic to examine why and how different people, places, and practices remain intentionally or unintentionally marginalised, off-the-map and under-theorised in urban research and policy making (see also, Nugraha et al. 2023, Ruszczyk et al. 2020), and with what consequences for us to further reflect on.
This session invites presentations that (re-)direct our gaze towards these overlooked urbanities. Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

• The political and economic mechanisms making overlooked urbanities, and their everyday implications for people, practices and places that are “left-behind”;
• Social, cultural and environmental implications of being labelled/declared as left-behind (and similar terminologies);
• Blind spots in European policy agendas and programmes addressing left-behind urban areas (e.g. in the frame of cohesion, exnovation);
• Local government and civil society networks acting on overlooked urbanities;
• Urban counter-initiatives and bottom-up responses to “balancing” policies;
• Research methods and methodologies to investigate overlooked urbanities, especially through comparative, longitudinal and transdisciplinary approaches.

Julia Wesely, Yimin Zhao,

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: urban transformation, greenhouse gas emissions, spatial disaggregation, spatial downscaling, climate action

Accurate accounting and monitoring of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are key to assess our efforts at mitigating climate change. While most countries now routinely report their annual national emissions to the UNFCCC, many important climate policy decisions are made at the finer scale of regional and city governments. A growing number of cities have started developing their own local GHG inventories, but inconsistent methodologies sometimes lead to emission underestimations and hamper our ability to compare emission trends across cities.

High-resolution inventories of GHG emissions over large regions offer a way to standardize emission accounting and monitoring at policy-relevant scales, and are important inputs into the top-down inverse modeling of emissions using sensor measurements. In addition, scalable high-resolution inventories provide a tool to track emissions and prioritize mitigation policies to cities and local governments without the resources to construct their own inventories from scratch.

In this session, researchers and practitioners constructing and using high-resolution spatial inventories of GHG emissions will exchange their findings and discuss key challenges such as the validation of their results. The session will include research on territorial GHG accounting as well as consumption-based accounting, and cover the latest methods for GHG emission spatial desegregation and bottom-up accounting, as well as for uncertainty quantification and data validation. To complement the methodological talks, we will invite contributions by practitioners using high-resolution GHG inventories to inform climate policy and local scales. With such a mix of contributions by inventory developers and users, the session will provide participants with rich opportunities for knowledge exchange and establishment of novel partnerships.

Kirsten von Elverfeldt, Maria Martin, Sebastián Block,

Category: Urban Studies
Keywords: urban mobility, 15-min city, walkability, bikeability, human-centered mobility

Around 70 % of global greenhouse emissions originate in cities, and a large fraction of these come from the transportation sector. Therefore, fostering low-carbon urban mobility is essential to mitigate ongoing climate change and to transition toward a sustainable future. We propose a session centered around metrics of sustainable urban mobility that are needed for the necessary change in European cities to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollutants caused by current mobility choices centered on private automobile use.

Partly in response to these urgent sustainability challenges, the concept of 15-minute cities has gained widespread attention in recent years and is already influencing urban design around the world. But so far geographic analyses of 15-minute cities have been limited to measuring distance-based accessibility to essential needs, without proper consideration of how different aspects of urban design promote safe, healthy and sustainable modes of travel.

Our session will gather researchers from a variety of fields working toward fostering a transition away from the car-centered mobility prevalent in most cities, and toward wider use of public transport and active mobility choices. The session will cover research ranging from (but not limited to) indicators quantifying how well people can walk and bike in their city (both objective measurements and subjective perceptions), to routing for walking and cycling that focuses on heat-avoiding, quiet, and green routes. The session would thus be focused on methodological and empirical experiences, as well as transdisciplinary engagement.

Currently, there are numerous research groups working on themes related to this topic, and we want to bring them together to exchange the current status of their work, the problems they face, and potential ways forward. We envisage a session with presentations from the participants, and a panel discussion to exchange ideas and promote networking

Kirsten von Elverfeldt, Sebastián Block, Maria Martin,

Category: Human Geography, Population Geography, Regional Geography, Urban Studies
Keywords: housing, trajectories, internal migration, housing crisis, pathways

In recent years, academic research has observed how home-making processes and strategies (mostly of young people) have changed and how housing needs are today fulfilled differently than in the past (e.g. remaining in the private sector [‘Generation Rent], postponement of home-ownership, downsizing, co-living) (e.g. Coulter & Kuleszo 2024, McKee et al. 2017, Ronald et al. 2016). This changes mainly occur due to the contemporary ‘housing crisis’, observed globally and in most European countries (Aalbers 2015). Housing aspirations are thereby often stable over time, even though unable to be fulfilled, orientating towards aspirations of the past (Crawford & McKee 2018; Preece et al. 2020). Equally, research has found evidence on changing residential patterns in the context of diverse crisis, e.g. the financial crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic leading to movements down the urban hiearchy (Gkartzios 2013; Stawarz et al. 2022).

In the session, we aim to gather research that is dedicated to questions of (changing) residential and housing aspirations and preferences over Europe. The session aims to jointly discuss research focusing on changing aspirations, preferences and trajectories, both concerning housing types and the residential location. The session intends to put the spotlight on different challenges in different locations and spatial contexts over Europe and discuss not only different trends and challenges, but further also reflect on different methodological approaches, different concepts and methods with the aim to benefit from this exchange for future research and implications for policy and practice.

We address researcher and authors that are active in research (basic and applied research) on the following topics (although not limited to these):

– Patterns of residential im/mobilities and housing preferences or aspirations

– Novel methodological approaches on how to measure housing/residential aspirations: qualitative and quantitative methods

– Conceptual reflections on residential and/or housing aspirations or preferences

– Residential and housing aspirations by socio-economic status or by ethnic groups

– Societal and planning implications on changing aspirations and patterns

Aalbers, M. B. (2015). The great moderation, the great excess and the global housing crisis.International Journal of Housing Policy, 15(1), 43–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616718.2014.997431

Crawford, J., & McKee, K. (2018). Hysteresis: understanding the housing aspirations gap. Sociology, 52(1), 182-197.

Preece, J., Crawford, J., McKee, K., Flint, J., & Robinson, D. (2020). Understanding changing housing aspirations: A review of the evidence. Housing Studies, 35(1), 87-106.

Ronald, R., Druta, O., & Godzik, M. (2018). Japan’s urban singles: negotiating alternatives to family households and standard housing pathways. Urban Geography, 39(7), 1018–1040. https://doi.org/10.1080/02723638.2018.1433924

Stawarz, N., Rosenbaum‐Feldbrügge, M., Sander, N., Sulak, H., & Knobloch, V. (2022). The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on internal migration in Germany: A descriptive analysis. Population, Space and Place, 28(6), e2566.

Dr. Elisabeth Gruber (University of Innsbruck, AT),

Category: Human Geography
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Urban and Regional Research, Data Analytics, Interdisciplinary Methodologies, Spatial Analysis

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into human geography has opened new horizons for spatial research. AI offers innovative tools and methodologies that allows to adress new and complex geographical questions. This session aims to convene researchers at the forefront of this interdisciplinary nexus to share recent developments, theoretical advancements, and empirical findings.

In the past decade, breakthroughs in machine learning, deep learning, and data analytics have significantly impacted the ways in which spatial data is collected, processed, and interpreted. AI techniques are enhancing our capabilities to analyze large-scale geospatial datasets, improve predictive modeling, and uncover patterns not readily apparent through traditional methods. These advancements are reshaping research in physical geography, human geography, environmental studies, and urban planning.

We invite scholarly contributions that:

• Present novel AI methodologies for spatial data analysis and geovisualization.
• Explore machine learning applications in urban and regional studies, cultural landscape analysis and environmental monitoring.
• Demonstrate deep learning techniques for remote sensing and image classification.
• Examine AI-driven approaches in human geography, such as social media geodata analysis and spatial behavior modeling.
• Discuss conceptual and methodological challenges in integrating AI with geographic research.
• Address ethical considerations and biases inherent in AI applications within geography.

Silvio Heinze, Robert Musil,