Details: The Annual International Conference 2024 will start at 18.00 on Tuesday 27 August 2024 and will end at 18.30 on Friday 30 August 2024, and will be held at Imperial College London.

More details on the website here: https://www.rgs.org/research/annual-international-conference

Deadline for submission is 5pm Tuesday 27th February:

Session conveners: Dr Florence Halstead (Florence.halstead@glasgow.ac.uk), Dr Ria Dunkley (Ria.Dunkley@glasgow.ac.uk) and Dr Sarah Gambell (Sarah.Gambell@glasgow.ac.uk 
Sponsorship: Climate Change Research Group (TBC)
Session Type: In person

Participatory Mapping in Times of Climate and Ecological Crises: Intersections for Data, Knowledge, and Wisdom

Abstract: Participatory mapping processes focus on gathering large amounts of data but often overlook the interpretation and utilisation of data for driving change. Participatory mapping can be employed to address climate and ecological crises by involving local people in understanding how to adapt to and mitigate local challenges. Moving beyond the mapping of physical features, participatory mapping can capture the beliefs, desires, hopes, and fears of residents and, in doing so, reveal the deep connections people have to their environment, illuminating their sense of place and attachment to their surroundings (Bodenhamer et al., 2015). For the individuals involved, the process can enable meaningful participation and thus move beyond the information deficit model traditionally dominating climate communication (Suldovsky, 2017). Participants are co-creators of past, present, and future imaginaries. As such, participatory mapping can function as a form of ecological consciousness-raising (Dunkley and Smith, 2019) and is thus an ecopedagogic praxis (Kahn, 2010).

This session will explore innovative approaches, methodologies, and case studies that utilise participatory mapping in climate and ecological crises.

We welcome submissions addressing the following questions:

• How can tools such as participatory mapping contribute to a more nuanced understanding of climate information and knowledge?
• What are the relationships between data, information, knowledge, and wisdom?
• How can we move beyond data and create collective knowledge and wisdom using mapping techniques? 
• What are the functions of participatory mapping for various stakeholders, including communities, policymakers, and local decision-makers?
• How can co-created artistic, even beautiful, data representations help inform climate action?

We welcome submissions that divert from traditional conference methods, that draw upon more creative data communication and interpretation methods in their delivery. We also welcome submissions from those beyond academia, and from various career stages including students and early career researchers.

To submit an abstract: Please email queries and proposals (title, presenter information & abstract of max. 300 words) to Florence Halstead (Florence.Halstead@glasgow.ac.uk) by 5pm Tuesday 27th February 2024.

References:
Bodenhamer, D.J., Corrigan, J., Harris, T., 2015. Deep Maps and Spatial Narratives. Indiana University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1zxxzr2
Dunkley, R.A., Smith, T.A., 2019. By-standing memories of curious observations: children’s storied landscapes of ecological encounter. Cult Geogr 26, 89–107. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474474018792652
Kahn, R., 2010. Critical pedagogy, ecoliteracy, & planetary crisis: The ecopedagogy movement.
Suldovsky, B., 2017. The Information Deficit Model and Climate Change Communication. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228620.013.301