​Events of this year have brought into sharp focus long-standing issues of social justice and societal change, whether related to systemic racism; Black Lives Matter,  LGBTQ, LatinX, gender issues; immigration inequality; economic inequality; environmental inequality; health disparities; social protest movements; and others centered around questions of equity, inclusion, and community—all with the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applied geographers and people from related disciplines who focus on purpose-driven research and problem-solving, are in a strong position to contribute to an understanding of these issues and the forces behind them as well as how these issues intersect in specific places.
 
The Applied Geography Conference seeks to start a conversation focused broadly around the theme of Social Justice and how we can leverage research to affect change. We invite papers for our 2020 annual conference that speak to and illuminate these issues, their intersectionality in particular places and among specific communities, and help to inform change.

We see this series of papers and sessions for this year’s conference as the start of an ongoing conversation leading us toward answers to the following questions:

• What is the connection between social justice, culture and place?
• What kind of applied geography for today’s world?
• How are applied geographers stepping up to be part of social change and social justice?
• How do we place applied geography in the vanguard of change?
• What are you doing that is applied work in these areas listed above?
• How do we move from critical theory to policy prescriptions and program implementation leading to lasting change?
• How do we evaluate and confirm that policies and programs are achieving intended results?
• What role can undergraduate and graduate students play in these ever-growing social justice movements?

​For questions or more information, contact Dr. Sheila Steinberg at [email protected].