IGU-CGE Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

As part of its ongoing commitment to foster collaboration, innovation, and inclusive professional development, the Commission on Geographical Education of the International Geographical Union is launching the first series of Special Interest Groups (SIGs).

The link to join is waiting you at the end of this post.

The SIGs are designed to convene community members who share expertise and enthusiasm for specific themes within geography education. Each SIG will serve as a platform for focused dialogue, collaborative research, and the development of both theoretical and practice-oriented initiatives. SIGs will support enhanced global engagement among scholars, educators, and practitioners at all career stages, creating opportunities for mentoring, knowledge exchange, and co-authorship.

Aims of the CGE SIGs

• Support networking and community-building among members with shared interests.
• Encourage collaborative research and innovation across national and institutional boundaries.
• Foster the exchange of good practices and ideas, enhancing the quality and relevance of geography education globally.
• Mentor emerging scholars through participation opportunities.
• Explore key and emerging themes in geography education.
  
  

Framework for Activities

Each SIG will:

• Be co-led by two members.
• Define a shared focus and goals in its area of specialisation.
• Organise and host at least one annual webinar, contributing to the CGE Webinar Series.
• SIGs are encouraged to pursue additional activities such as collaborative publications (e.g. in IRGEE, Springer book series), joint conference sessions, and shared educational and research resource/materials development.
• Maintain an open and inclusive approach to participation, welcoming all CGE members interested in the topic.
  
  

Potential SIG Themes and Descriptions

Initial and Continuing Teacher Education. This SIG will focus on the professional preparation of future and current geography teachers, examining the structure, content, and pedagogical models used in initial teacher education programs globally. It will critically evaluate the role of geography in teacher identity formation and curriculum design. The group will explore how initial and continuing teacher education worldwide responds to contemporary educational priorities and fosters deep pedagogical content knowledge in geography.

AI and Technologies. This SIG addresses the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies into geography education and research. It will explore AI tools’ pedagogical, ethical, and epistemological implications in both school-based and higher education contexts. The SIG will also examine how digital technologies reshape knowledge production, assessment, and student agency in the geography classroom.

GIS and Geospatial Technologies. This SIG centres on using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geospatial technologies in teaching and learning geography. It will explore how these tools can foster spatial and geographical thinking, data literacy, and place-based analysis. The SIG will also consider curriculum integration, professional development, and barriers to the broader adoption of GIS across educational levels.

Pedagogies and Didactics. This SIG investigates pedagogical theories, didactic principles, and instructional models that underpin geography teaching across diverse contexts. It will explore the design and enactment of powerful teaching strategies and consider how geography-specific didactics shape student understanding. The group will also engage with comparative perspectives on pedagogy, drawing from international research traditions and cultural practices.

Geographical Education Research Methodologies. Focusing on research methodologies specific to geography education, this SIG will examine qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method approaches used in empirical studies. It will support methodological innovation, transparency, and rigour in research design, data collection, and interpretation. Particular attention will be given to ethical considerations, participatory methods, and cross-cultural research practices.

Teaching of Economic Geography. This SIG concerns how economic geography is taught and conceptualised in school and university settings. It will explore key themes such as globalisation, inequality, development, and spatial economic change, examining how these are represented in curricula and pedagogical resources. The SIG will also assess the role of economic geography in building critical economic literacies and global competencies among learners. The IGU’s Commission on the Dynamics of Economic Spaces will support the SIG.

Thinking Development in Geography. This SIG will explore the cognitive and metacognitive processes associated with learning in geography, including spatial thinking, systems thinking, critical thinking, and geographical reasoning. It will draw on interdisciplinary insights from educational psychology, cognitive science, and geography education. The group aims to identify strategies that support learners’ conceptual development and enhance their ability to think geographically about complex problems.

Inquiry and Fieldwork. This SIG promotes inquiry-based learning and fieldwork in geography education as central strategies for fostering engagement and geographic understanding. It will examine methodological and pedagogical frameworks for designing and assessing inquiry tasks and field experiences. The SIG will also investigate how digital tools, virtual fieldwork, and equity considerations are shaping the future of field-based learning.

Powerful Geographical Knowledge and Recontextualisation. This SIG investigates the concept of powerful knowledge in geography and how it is translated, adapted, and recontextualised across different educational settings. It will critically examine whose knowledge is valued in geography curricula and how knowledge is mediated through textbooks, assessment, and pedagogy. The group will also explore tensions between disciplinary rigour and curriculum accessibility in diverse sociocultural contexts.

Geography in STE(A)M Education. This SIG explores the contribution of geography to interdisciplinary STEM and STEAM education frameworks. It will analyse how geography supports spatial reasoning, systems thinking, and real-world problem-solving in the context of global sustainability and technological innovation. The SIG will also examine the integration of geographic perspectives in design thinking, environmental modelling, and socio-scientific inquiry.

Dissemination. The Dissemination SIG will focus on strategies for effectively sharing and communicating geography education research with broader audiences. It will support knowledge mobilisation through publications, social media, practitioner networks, and public engagement initiatives. The group will also examine the challenges and opportunities of open access, multilingual communication, and digital dissemination platforms.

Emerging Scholars. This SIG provides a supportive space for postgraduate researchers, early-career academics, and new geography education research community contributors. It will offer mentoring, networking, and collaboration opportunities to build scholarly confidence and visibility. The group aims to foster intergenerational dialogue and develop leadership capacity within the future cohort of geography education researchers.

🌍 Join Our Special Interest Groups (SIGs)!

We’re excited to launch a new page for our Special Interest Groups (SIGs)—a space to connect, collaborate, and co-create around the topics you’re most passionate about.

👉 Click here to explore and sign up for the SIG(s) that spark your curiosity. Whether you’re just interested or ready to get more involved, there’s a place for you!

💡 If you’d like to take on a more active role, you’re warmly invited to sign up as a co-lead. Just express your interest in the form—we’d love to have you help shape the journey ahead.

Let’s build something meaningful together!