Geography Connect Convention

The 1st Geography Connect Convention (GCC) took place at Osnabrück University from September 30 to October 2. As a new forum, it brought together geographers from academia and professional practice. Under the theme “Human–Environment Relations: Risks – Transformations – Futures,” the convention focused on current challenges and future perspectives in geography.

The GCC is not intended to be a traditional academic conference. Instead, it aims to create a space for ideas, exchange, and collaboration. Alongside academic presentations, the programme included interactive, creative, and experimental formats that encouraged participants to try out new approaches, exchange ideas, and connect with one another. The goal was to inspire new perspectives, foster collaboration, and contribute to the future development of geography as a discipline in a changing world.

The 1st GCC was opened by Luisa Neubauer, who gave a keynote on key issues at the intersection of climate change, sustainability, and activism. She addressed topics including the climate crisis, social change, responsibility, and shaping the future, as well as the question of how knowledge can be turned into concrete action and processes of change.

A particular focus of the GCC was on early-career researchers. The convention offered young geographers opportunities to exchange ideas, build networks, and present their research. Linda Lütkes also shared insights from her current research. In the session “Circular Economy,” she presented her research on “Contextualization Failures in Challenge-Oriented Innovation: Lessons from Bengaluru, India.”