KING’S Ely was certainly well represented at this year’s Geographical Association (GA) Conference.
Alan Parkinson, Head of Geography at King’s Ely Junior, is President of the GA this year. He is the organisation’s 106th President and he is the first teacher to be President for almost 20 years.
Mr Parkinson chose the conference theme of ‘Everyday Geographies’, which was interpreted by teachers, academics, authors and others in over 140 sessions. Hundreds of people attended the face-to-face event at the University of Surrey. As the first hybrid conference, several hundred other people also joined in online.
Mr Parkinson chaired a number of key sessions, including a public lecture from Professor James Cheshire of University College, London, a keynote lecture from Dipo Faloyin, author of a new book called ‘Africa is not a Country’, and chatted to award-winning author Cal Flyn. Mr Parkinson’s own Presidential Lecture was on the ‘Power of the Quotidian’.
Claire Kyndt, Teacher of Geography at King’s Ely Senior, also presented an excellent session, sharing some lovely ideas for ‘Fieldwork in your pocket’. The King’s Ely Geography Department was out in force to support Mr Parkinson and Miss Kyndt, with Ms Barnes, Mr Aguilar, Mr Norbury, Mrs Melville and Mrs Thomas all attending the event.
Mr Parkinson said: “After a year of planning, it was wonderful to have people back in person after two years of virtual conferences. Few people have had the chance to be GA President, and this will be a highlight of my long teaching career, which will also include presenting at the 100th meeting of the International Geographical Union in Paris in July. The world needs geographers now more than ever.”
Image of Mr Parkinson taken by Geographical Association/Shaun Flannery 2022.