iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by The Geographical Journal

James Boxall 🇨🇦🍁 @jamesgis.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Monday morning #geography read (open access) "Envisioning Liberal Internationalism: Mapping and the League of Nations' Geographical Department" Jake Hodder & Philip Jagessar 15 September 2026 The Geographical Journal @rgs.org @thegj.bsky.social rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

044

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

New in The GJ: 'Remote habitability as method: Understanding the public and social infrastructures of left-behind places' by Margherita Grazioli & Giulia Urso This paper introduce the 'remote habitability method' through a case study focusing on Italy's inner regions. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

doi.org

The Geographical Journal | RGS Research Journal | Wiley Online Library

This paper introduces the ‘Remote Habitability Method’ (RHM), a place-sensitive epistemological and research-making approach that seeks to understand what makes remote areas inhabitable, in contrast ...

000

Reposted by The Geographical Journal

WorldPop Project @worldpop-uos.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

How do data shape policy, and whose realities get counted? Join our Deputy Director (Research), Dr Jessica Espey, for the QMRG Annual Lecture at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual Conference. 📅 3 September, 2:45pm (UK), 💻Hybrid event Register: www.rgs.org/research/ann...

Afghanistan census, UNFPA/Lorenzo Tugnoli, 2014

101

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

New in The GJ: 'Why we should unfold dreams: Public geographies of disabled futuring' by Jacqueline Kowalski & @tabeabork.bsky.social This commentary is part of a forthcoming Special Section on 'Geographies of the Future'. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a commentary abstract in The Geographical Journal (2026) entitled: 'Why We Should Unfold Dreams: Public Geographies of Disabled Futuring' by Jacqueline Kowalski & Tabea Bork-Hüffer, with a blue banner at the top.

101 million people in the EU live with disabilities (EU 2022). Yet, disabled voices rarely are considered in endeavours of futuring. Even more, amid rising socio-political polarisation—fuelled by the knowledge crisis, populism and identity-based divides—ableist norms are being reinforced, further marginalising and erasing disabled perspectives from public futures (Kafer 2013). To counter this trend, we must urgently begin ‘imagining otherwise’ (Olufemi 2021) and co-envision desired futures through disabled perspectives. This commentary draws on Crip Theory, Critical Disability, and Black, Feminist and Queer Studies to advocate for co-productive approaches to futuring that centre the knowledge, creativity and lived experiences of disabled people (Shrodes 2023). We propose developing ‘public geographies of futuring’ by invoking and unfolding disabled dreams. We argue that imagining futures together can make them actionable. Although futuring alone may not achieve structural change, ‘unfolding dreams’ can amplify underrepresented voices, increase public visibility and help initiate local transformations.

020

Reposted by The Geographical Journal

James Boxall 🇨🇦🍁 @jamesgis.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Monday mornings most of the journal alerts arrive by email. Thank you @rgs.org #geography "Why We Should Unfold Dreams: Public Geographies of Disabled Futuring." Authors: Jacqueline Kowalski & Tabea Bork-Hüffer Open Access doi.org/10.1111/geoj... Abstract in Alt text.

101 million people in the EU live with disabilities (EU 2022). Yet, disabled voices rarely are considered in endeavours of futuring. Even more, amid rising socio-political polarisation—fuelled by the knowledge crisis, populism and identity-based divides—ableist norms are being reinforced, further marginalising and erasing disabled perspectives from public futures (Kafer 2013). To counter this trend, we must urgently begin ‘imagining otherwise’ (Olufemi 2021) and co-envision desired futures through disabled perspectives. This commentary draws on Crip Theory, Critical Disability, and Black, Feminist and Queer Studies to advocate for co-productive approaches to futuring that centre the knowledge, creativity and lived experiences of disabled people (Shrodes 2023). We propose developing ‘public geographies of futuring’ by invoking and unfolding disabled dreams. We argue that imagining futures together can make them actionable. Although futuring alone may not achieve structural change, ‘unfolding dreams’ can amplify underrepresented voices, increase public visibility and help initiate local transformations.

031

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

New in The GJ: 'Exploring perceptions of plastic pollutions amongst subsistence livestock farmers in subtropical rural communities' by Nomcebo C. Madonsela This paper examines the perceptions of farmers in South Africa on the negative impacts of plastic pollution. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Nomcebo C. Madonsela, Linton F. Munyai, Mwazvita T. B. Dalu & Tatenda Dalu (2026) entitled: 'Exploring Perceptions of Plastic Pollution Amongst Subsistence Livestock Farmers in Subtropical Rural Communities' with a blue banner at the top.

001

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

New in The GJ: 'Geographies of unreliable power: Energy insecurity and everyday life in a South African informal settlement' by Athina Petsou et al. This paper examines how unreliable energy infrastructure shapes everyday experiences of precarity in Qandu Qandu, Cape Town. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

doi.org

The Geographical Journal | RGS Research Journal | Wiley Online Library

This article examines how unreliable energy infrastructure shapes everyday experiences of precarity in Qandu Qandu, a largely off-grid informal settlement in Cape Town, South Africa. The image of hig...

000

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

New in The GJ: 'Governing urban futures through entangled temporalities of smart urbanism' by Veronika Cummings & Elisabeth Sommerlad This commentary is part of the 'Geographies of the Future' Special Section. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

010

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

New in The GJ: 'Mapping tsunami vulnerability in coastal Malaysia: The critical role of building characteristics & coastal proximity' by Nik Ahma Faris Nik Effendi et al. This paper assesses building vulnerability to tsunami hazards using geospatial analysis & MCDM methods doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Nik Ahmad Faris Nik Effendi, Mohd Faisal Abdul Khanan & Suzanna Noor Azmy (2026) entitled: 'Mapping Tsunami Vulnerability in Coastal Malaysia: The Critical Role of Building Characteristics and Coastal Proximity' with a blue banner at the top.

Tsunamis are rare but devastating disasters that primarily affect coastal regions. Structural mitigation measures, such as sea walls and offshore breakwaters, are effective but costly, especially for countries like Malaysia that are less prone to tsunamis. As a result, non-structural approaches are more practical. This research focuses on assessing building vulnerability using geospatial methods and multicriteria decision-making (MCDM), particularly the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and relative importance index (RII). Seven indicators with RII values exceeding 0.5 were accepted, while six were excluded. The AHP model utilised four key indicators and 17 sub-indicators to evaluate building vulnerability. The consistency ratio (CR) was calculated and validated using Monte Carlo analysis, yielding an acceptable value of 0.02. Results indicate that buildings made of wood, with one floor, located within 400 m of the shoreline and used as residences are highly vulnerable to tsunamis. This study provides valuable insights for governments, NGOs and communities to proactively prepare for tsunamis. It offers a strategic framework to enhance mitigation measures, supporting effective disaster preparedness and reducing future risks.

010

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

New in The GJ: 'Contested coastal governance and livelihood transitions: Evidence from Vietnam's Tam Giang-Cau Hai Lagoon' by Pham Thi Ngoc Quynh et al. This paper explores sustainability transitions in coastal fisheries, drawing on fieldwork conducted in 2022. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Pham Thi Ngoc Quynh, Thu L. T. Dinh & Edo Andriesse (2026) entitled: 'Contested Coastal Governance and Livelihood Transitions: Evidence From Vietnam's Tam Giang-Cau Hai Lagoon' with a blue banner at the top.

This article examines the livelihood transformations and governance challenges of small-scale fishers (SSF) in Vietnam's Tam Giang-Cau Hai (TGCH) lagoon. Drawing on 47 semi-structured interviews and extensive ethnographic fieldwork conducted in 2022, it reveals how fishers navigate overlapping pressures: declining stocks, pollution, spatial competition and fragmented institutional reforms. Although adaptation strategies like livelihood diversification and outmigration are common, they frequently exacerbate structural inequalities related to age, gender and socio-economic status. We argue that state-promoted alternatives, such as aquaculture and ecotourism, show limited success and often risk ‘pseudo-diversification’ due to weak governance, uneven enforcement and spatial exclusion. Conceptually, this study advances an integrated framework combining wicked problems, livelihood adaptation, and spatial justice. It demonstrates that sustainability transitions in coastal fisheries are not merely technical challenges but contested political processes. By highlighting how institutional complexity and power asymmetries reproduce marginalisation, the study contributes to more grounded, justice-oriented approaches to coastal governance in Southeast Asia.

000

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Have a read of @matildaf.bsky.social's recent GJ commentary on reproductive futures, featured in last month's RGS-IBG Journals highlights: doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

doi.org

022

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

New in The GJ: 'When French means White: About citizenship and the colonial specificities of racism in France' by Claske Dijkema This paper is part of an ongoing Special Section: 'Glimpses beyond Citizenship'. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

doi.org

The Geographical Journal | RGS Research Journal | Wiley Online Library

Racialised French citizens living in marginalised social housing neighbourhoods often experience that, despite holding formal citizenship, they are not considered as fully ‘French’. Differential citi...

011

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

New in The GJ: 'Geographies of prediction markets: Gamifying the future' by @sarah-mills.bsky.social This commentary outlines the economic, political and moral geographies of prediction markets, exploring the ethical questions being raised around the gambling industry. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a commentary abstract in The Geographical Journal by Sarah Mills (2026) entitled: 'Geographies of Prediction Markets: Gamifying the Future' with a blue banner at the top.

This commentary outlines the economic, political and moral geographies of prediction markets and maps how they are gamifying the future. These digital platforms are transforming the gambling industry and raising significant ethical questions.

331

Reposted by The Geographical Journal

Prof. Sarah Mills @sarah-mills.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

"Geographies of Prediction Markets: Gamifying the Future" is now available Open Access in The Geographical Journal - rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... The commentary outlines the economic, political and moral geographies of prediction markets and maps how they are gamifying the future

064

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

New in The GJ 'Political ecology & social production of drinking water scarcity in India's contaminated landscapes' by Avinash Ranjan et al. This paper seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of political ecology as a framework to understand disparities in drinking water access doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Avinash Ranjan, Sambit Mallick & Kajal Kumar Mandal (2026) entitled: 'Political Ecology and Social Production of Drinking Water Scarcity in India's Contaminated Landscapes' with a blue banner at the top.

Employing the political ecology framework, this article aims to: (a) evaluate the effectiveness of political ecology as a framework to understand disparities in drinking water access in India, with specific reference to the case studies of Shahpur in Bihar and Myorpur in Uttar Pradesh; (b) investigate how social hierarchy, governance and material risk shape water accessibility; and (c) identify actionable strategies for equitable and participatory water governance, particularly with regard to marginalised communities. This article is based on household surveys, groundwater analysis and spatial assessment to interrogate the dominant narrative that construes ‘scarcity’ as merely technical or natural. Putting it succinctly, ‘scarcity’ has been advocated by the hitherto-existing power structures to legitimise economic inequality. The findings of the study demonstrate that water inequities are socially constructed and maintained through power relations, historical marginalisation and sociopolitical hierarchies.

020

Reposted by The Geographical Journal

Ruth! @ruthholliday.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Excellent contribution to low fertility debates here from @matildaf.bsky.social on necessary climate adaptations in kinship and care

133

Reposted by The Geographical Journal

Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

My new paper is out in @thegj.bsky.social: and asks how to build affirmative, (non)reproductive futures. What would it mean to affirm climate-related reproductive anxieties? What does climate adaptation mean for family & caring relationships? 1/3 rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

The Geographical Journal | RGS Research Journal | Wiley Online Library

Recent years have seen a steady rise in narratives of pronatalism and demographic anxiety, while younger people are increasingly expressing reluctance to have children for reasons related to climate ...

13018

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

New in The GJ: 'The social equity of spatial compactness varies by context: Evidence from Belfast, Glasgow and Liverpool' by Tianrui Sun & Cristian Silva doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Tianrui Sun & Cristian Silva (2026) entitled: 'The Social Equity of Spatial Compactness Varies by Context: Evidence From Belfast, Glasgow and Liverpool' with a blue banner at the top.

While compact urban development is widely promoted as a pathway to greater social equity, empirical evidence on the extent to which social equity is achieved remains inconclusive. To advance on this, we address three elements on compact urban development linked to social equity that have been little examined: (i) the conflation of compactness with density; (ii) the limited fine-scale analysis of compactness in relation to demographic patterns; and (iii) the underexplored relationship between demographic characteristics and urban compactness. On this basis, the study develops a multidimensional compactness measurement framework at a 500-m resolution, integrating physical, functional and socio-economic indicators. Based on this, multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) models are applied to three UK cities—Belfast, Glasgow and Liverpool—to examine how demographic variables (ethnicity, employment, education, gender and age) relate to spatial compactness. The findings show that the demographic–compactness relationship is highly context dependent, varying across both locations and social groups. This highlights the need for equitable compact development strategies that are sensitive to contextual differences and responsive to the circumstances of diverse population groups.

000

Reposted by The Geographical Journal

James Boxall 🇨🇦🍁 @jamesgis.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Thinking Halifax density debate. (open access abstract in Alt) "Social Equity of Spatial Compactness Varies by Context: Evidence From Belfast, Glasgow and Liverpool" - Tianrui Sun and Cristian Silva. The Geographical Journal. @rgs.org (for those into multiscale geographically weighted regression)

While compact urban development is widely promoted as a pathway to greater social equity, empirical evidence on the extent to which social equity is achieved remains inconclusive. To advance on this, we address three elements on compact urban development linked to social equity that have been little examined: (i) the conflation of compactness with density; (ii) the limited fine-scale analysis of compactness in relation to demographic patterns; and (iii) the underexplored relationship between demographic characteristics and urban compactness. On this basis, the study develops a multidimensional compactness measurement framework at a 500-m resolution, integrating physical, functional and socio-economic indicators. Based on this, multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) models are applied to three UK cities—Belfast, Glasgow and Liverpool—to examine how demographic variables (ethnicity, employment, education, gender and age) relate to spatial compactness. The findings show that the demographic–compactness relationship is highly context dependent, varying across both locations and social groups. This highlights the need for equitable compact development strategies that are sensitive to contextual differences and responsive to the circumstances of diverse population groups.

021

Reposted by The Geographical Journal

RGS-IBG Higher Ed @rgs-ibghe.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Looking for something to read this Friday? Check out our April highlights from across the Society's journals: Finch-Race, D. A., and P. Lewis: ow.ly/K3uo50YRBLM Preci, A.: ow.ly/BA7l50YRBLN Hein, J.: ow.ly/CIQa50YRBLL Migozzi, J., and D. Wójcik: ow.ly/lN6x50YRBLP

Aerial night view of Caesars Superdome illuminated in blue lights during Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

Group of Indigenous people gathered at a roadside blockade in the Argentine Chaco during daylight.

Aerial view of a coastal city with a large circular park and surrounding urban development by the water's edge.

A panoramic cityscape featuring Johannesburg's skyline with the iconic Hillbrow Tower under a partly cloudy sky.

245

Reposted by The Geographical Journal

RGS-IBG Higher Ed @rgs-ibghe.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Do you use a screen reader? The RGS journals are introducing alt text for all article figures, and we want to hear from you. What best practices would you like to see, and what are the most common mistakes you notice in your academic reading? Comment below or get in touch at journals@rgs.org.

Computer monitor displaying the words 'ALT TEXT' in bold black font on a white screen against a purple gradient background.

01011

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

New in The GJ: 'Resilience of agricultural trade during the US-China Trade War: The role of product and geographical diversification' by Wenwan Jin et al. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Wenwan Jin, Yuxin ZHu, Xiongbin Lin & Xingchuan Gao (2026) entitled: 'Resilience of Agricultural Trade During the US-China Trade War: The Role of Product and Geographical Diversification' with a blue banner at the top.

Global shocks often destabilise international trade, and the current tensions in US-China trade relations exemplify this challenge. This study analyses China's customs data during 2019–2022 to identify optimal strategies to help Chinese agricultural products recover faster. The findings reveal that both product and geographical diversification significantly enhance the resilience of China's agricultural trade under trade war pressures, especially for China's eastern regions. While geographical diversification bolsters short-term resilience, product diversification is key to long-term trade stability. Furthermore, the positive impact of product diversification is mainly attributed to the weak relatedness among products, whereas geographical diversification benefits from the strong linkages among China's trading partners. These results highlight the critical role of such diversification in maintaining trade stability during the ongoing US-China trade war and offer valuable insights for formulating agricultural trade strategies.

000

Reposted by The Geographical Journal

RGS-IBG Higher Ed @rgs-ibghe.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Welcome to our research and higher education Bluesky! 👋 Follow us to stay up to date with our work in geographical research, including events, funding opportunities, new publications and more. Learn more about how we promote geography in higher education and beyond: ow.ly/CMgN50YI795

Bright orange circular sign on a brick wall reading 'Welcome' with Royal Geographical Society branding partially obscured by green foliage.

02421

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

New in The GJ: 'Vegetal infrastructure: Rwanda's eucalyptus boom and the material politics of tree planting as a "nature-based solution"' by Nathan Clay This paper critically evaluates local implications of global tree-planting mandates, drawing on fieldwork in Rwanda. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Nathan Clay (2026) entitled: 'Vegetal Infrastructure: Rwanda's Eucalyptus Boom and the Material Politics of Tree Planting as a ‘Nature-Based Solution’' with a blue banner at the top.

Planting trees has become a global obsession. Forest restoration and afforestation have been rebranded as ‘nature-based solutions’ to climate change. Nations, corporations and non-profits together aim to plant trillions of trees, roughly equivalent to a new Amazon. This article considers the local implications of this terrestrial transformation. It reports on empirical findings from Rwanda, where over fifty million trees—mostly eucalyptus species—have been planted during the past fifteen years. Based on fieldwork with four rural communities, I demonstrate how the material properties of eucalyptus intersect with state and market rationales to make tree planting profitable, scalable and legible. Building from geographic thinking on infrastructure and human-plant relations, I develop the concept of vegetal infrastructure to analyse how trees are enrolled in political projects, producing durable inequalities that become a palpable fixture on the landscape. The article emphasises the urgent need to diversify global reforestation mandates and offers vegetal infrastructure as a lens to assess their local implications.

042

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

New in The GJ: 'Petropower in law-enforcement advertising at Super Bowl LIX' by Daniel Finch-Race & @pancholewis.bsky.social This commentary examines a recruitment ad from the 2025 Super Bowl in the context of contemporary geopolitics & low-carbon energy transitions. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

doi.org

The Geographical Journal | RGS Research Journal | Wiley Online Library

This paper examines a recruitment commercial from the Super Bowl on 9 February 2025 in terms of its spectacularisation of petroleum's abiding yet volatile influence. The minute-long piece on behalf o....

022

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

New in The GJ: 'The arrival grid: Public space as migrant social infrastructure in Central Lisbon' by @duygu-c.bsky.social This paper introduces the concept of the arrival grid as a socio-spatial framework theorising how migrants shape urban space beyond formal integration doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

doi.org

The Geographical Journal | RGS Research Journal | Wiley Online Library

This study examines how central urban public spaces in Lisbon function as infrastructures of arrival, mediating migrant integration in everyday life and space. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork with ...

010

Reposted by The Geographical Journal

Matt Baillie Smith @mattbailliesmith.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

New publication alert! Happy to share this paper with Sarah Peck thinking about declining Overseas Development Assistance and its implications for geographical (and other) scholarship. Details ⬇️

021

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

New in The GJ: 'Domesticating the UK's hostile environment: Forced migrants' lived experiences of making "home"' by @robinfinlay.bsky.social et al. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Robin Finlay, Matthew C. Benwell & Peter Hopkins (2026) entitled: 'Domesticating the UK's Hostile Environment: Forced Migrants' Lived Experiences of Making ‘Home’' with a blue banner at the top.

In this paper, we analyse the lived experiences of forced migrants in dispersal accommodation in the UK, contributing to understandings of the policies and politics of the hostile environment immigration regime in relation to the domestic sphere. More specifically, our research addresses the relative dearth of work exploring the intimate lived experiences of forced migrants by considering how the asylum regime shapes understandings of home and constrains processes of homemaking. We examine how material and social aspects of dispersal accommodation work to limit forced migrants' sense of home. We show how ‘out of place’ materialities, such as leaks, damp and infestations of insects, alongside broken and absent material fittings, such as decaying and missing furniture, undermine the making of a safe and comfortable home. We also illustrate how social relations within and around dispersal accommodation, including relationships and encounters with neighbours and flatmates, can undermine one's sense of home and belonging. By illustrating the interconnections of the material and social, we contribute to understandings of forced migrants' experiences of housing that are constituted through an assemblage of people, objects, relations, emotions and broader political policies. Whilst forced migrants respond to precarious housing through diverse coping strategies, this paper shows that within the context of a hostile UK asylum and migration system, the ability to make home is highly constrained.

000

Reposted by The Geographical Journal

Newcastle University Geography @ncl-geography.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

📣 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄🎉 A new paper by Dr Robin Finlay, Dr Matt Benwell and Professor Peter Hopkins (@peterhopkins.bsky.social) has been published in 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙚𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡. Check it out! 🔓 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 – 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 👉 rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

054

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

New commentary in The GJ: 'Infrastructures of (dis)connection: Declining Overseas Development Assistance and the shifting geographies of development' by Sarah Peck & @mattbailliesmith.bsky.social doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a commentary abstract in The Geographical Journal by Sarah Peck & Matt Baillie Smith (2026) entitled: 'Infrastructures of (Dis)Connection: Declining Overseas Development Assistance and the Shifting Geographies of Development' with a blue banner at the top.

This short commentary hopes to stimulate debate about reductions in Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), particularly by the United States and the United Kingdom in 2025. Drawing on three key areas of geographical scholarship, we consider firstly the intersections between ODA and labour geographies, secondly we engage with relational theorising to consider repercussions for development ecosystems, and finally we explore potential impacts on the wider geographies of aid and development. In doing so, we hope to use these geographically inspired lenses to broaden conversations about declining ODA and ‘Aidland’ and to acknowledge and surface the contradictions presented to development geographers at this critical moment. By articulating the potential of geographically inspired scholarship for thinking about declining ODA, we conclude by opening up further questions about future ‘public’ geographies of development.

041

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

New in The GJ: 'Does education mediate the relationship between renewable energy and ecological footprint in Africa? Evidence from new artificial intelligence methods' by Solomon Prince Nathaniel et al. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Solomon Prince Nathaniel, Dimitrios Dimitriou, Süleyman Bolat & Simplice A. Asongu (2026) entitled: 'Does Education Mediate the Relationship Between Renewable Energy and Ecological Footprint in Africa? Evidence From New Artificial Intelligence Methods' with a blue banner at the top.

010

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

New commentary in The GJ: 'Generating impact: Challenges faced when promoting the adoption of geographical tools for informing public policy' by Gary Higgs & Mitchel Langford doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Gary Higgs & Mitchel Langford (2026) entitled: 'Generating Impact: Challenges Faced When Promoting the Adoption of Geographical Tools for Informing Public Policy' with a blue banner at the top.

Drawing on the application of spatial analytical tools (based on floating catchment area (FCA) methods), this commentary highlights some of the challenges faced in promoting the use of geographical techniques to address aspects of government policy/delivery. There is an ever-expanding academic literature concerned with the application of FCA techniques in a range of thematic areas, the majority of which inevitably conclude with claims for some degree of policy relevance. If geographers are to have a meaningful input, there is a need to demonstrate the impact of applying these types of spatial analytical techniques to address real-world policy challenges. We draw on our experiences in using these tools in applied studies to firstly highlight an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to advocate for an alternative methodology as part of the construction of a domain of indicators in successive versions of an index of multiple deprivation in Wales. Meanwhile, researchers based within Ofsted, by drawing on the application of multi-modal FCA approaches to measure localised access to childcare in England, have shown that it is possible to work in collaboration with academics and others to address important government policy initiatives using such techniques. We conclude by briefly summarising the lessons learnt from our experiences of applying these tools in policy contexts with varying degrees of impact.

000

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

New in The GJ: 'Towards economic resilience in Africa: The complementary roles of economic complexity and foreign direct investment' by Ekene ThankGod Emeka et al. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Ekene ThankGod Emeka, Simplice A. Asongu, Davidmac O. Ekeocha & Vanessa S. Tchamyou (2026) entitled: 'Towards Economic Resilience in Africa: The Complementary Roles of Economic Complexity and Foreign Direct Investment' with a blue banner at the top.

This study focuses on two key objectives: first, to evaluate the unconditional effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic resilience in Africa and, second, to investigate the relevance of economic complexity in shaping the FDI–economic resilience nexus. The analysis is based on a panel of 34 African countries covering the years 2011–2023, employing the dynamic system generalised method of moments (GMM) and the bias-corrected method of moments (BCMM) as the two dynamic estimation techniques for the study. While the dynamic system GMM served as the baseline estimator, the BCMM was employed as a robustness check in response to recent concerns regarding the reliability of system GMM. The BCMM approach robustly addresses and corrects for endogeneity, cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity. In this study, economic resilience is defined by macroeconomic stability, market efficiency and governance. The findings reveal a positive synergy between FDI and economic resilience, with economic complexity further amplifying the positive impact of FDI on economic resilience. In light of these findings, the study advances policy recommendations that align with both the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

000

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

New in The GJ: '"I really don't have time to talk and listen to all those people": Care responsibilities and privileged irresponsibility in the devolution of social services in the Netherlands' by Petra de Braal et al. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Petra de Braal, Stijn Oosterlynck, Michael Leyshon, Catherine Leyshon & Shukru Esmene (2026) entitled: '‘I Really Don't Have Time to Talk and Listen to All Those People’: Care Responsibilities and Privileged Irresponsibility in the Devolution of Social Services in the Netherlands' with a blue banner at the top.

This paper analyses the micro-scale geographies of care within newly devolved social services in The Netherlands. Across Europe, welfare reforms have reconfigured the spatial organisation of care, shifting responsibilities to municipalities and expecting closer collaboration between citizens, civil-society organisations and local governments. We analyse how these spatial and institutional transformations shape the everyday negotiation of care responsibilities within Buren Helpen Elkaar, a locally organised initiative that mobilises volunteers to support residents (primarily elderly people) to continue living independently at home. Drawing on Tronto's political ethics of care, we investigate how care is interpreted, allocated and enacted across local actors. The analysis is based on qualitative data from thirty-six interviews, participatory observations and policy and organisational documents. Our findings show that, despite its promise of fostering more cooperative citizen-state relations, the initiative is marked by dynamics of ‘privileged irresponsibility’. Professionals and volunteers withdraw from particular tasks by claiming to be ‘too busy’, by narrowing definitions of legitimate need or by shifting responsibility to other actors. By tracing how responsibility is negotiated and redistributed in place, the paper offers a micro-scale account of devolved welfare that foregrounds the relational dynamics shaping local care provision. It also shows how everyday practices can undermine the intentions of welfare reforms and contribute to uneven outcomes across communities.

000

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

New in The GJ: 'Computational analysis of contested monuments and collective memory in a multiethnic city' by Alexandru-Sabin Nicula et al. This paper analyses how 4 monuments in Cluj-Napoca reflect Romanian-Hungarian relations & the negotiation of collective memory. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Alexandru-Sabin Nicula, Remus Crețan, Alexandru Dragan & Bogdan Oancea (2026) entitled: 'Computational Analysis of Contested Monuments and Collective Memory in a Multiethnic City' with a blue banner at the top.

021

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

New in The GJ: 'Past carbon emissions and future targets for the Olympic Games' by David Gogishvili & Martin Müller As the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony takes place today, this commentary reflects on the sustainability targets for the Games. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

doi.org

The Geographical Journal | RGS Research Journal | Wiley Online Library

The global visibility and political weight of the Olympic Games can inspire climate change action. Yet, at the same time, the Olympics are also significant carbon emitters. To date, however, there is...

001

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

New in The GJ! '(No) pets on university campuses: "Animaling" citizenship for pet-friendly spaces' by @threading-time.bsky.social et al. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Clare Holdsworth, Daniel Allen, Mark Lucherini & Cameron Causer (2026) entitled: '(No) Pets on University Campuses: ‘Animaling’ Citizenship for Pet-Friendly Spaces' with a blue banner at the top.

010

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

New in The GJ: 'Youth artisanal and small-scale miners' perspectives on the health effects of mercury' by Lydia Osei doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Lydia Osei (2026) entitled: 'Youth Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners' Perspectives on the Health Effects of Mercury' with a blue banner at the top.

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) has gained prominence in the development discourse mainly due to its contribution to national economies; but also, the occupational and environmental challenges associated with the sector. This paper concentrates on the use of mercury at ASM sites, as one of the major concerns associated with a growing sector in Ghana. The paper reveals that youth miners have limited knowledge of the grave health effects of mercury because such knowledge is based on what is transmitted by their older counterparts. Some miners have devised crude ways of protecting themselves against the effects of mercury. The paper proposes that an improved education on the effects of mercury on the health of youth miners could be an essential component of formalising the sector, which will also prove to be a key strategy to achieving the goal of reducing and eliminating mercury from ASM.

030

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

New commentary in The GJ: 'Can the Himalayas speak? Firework art, marketing and posthuman ethics of nature' by Yana Wengel & Ling Ma This piece examines Arc'teryx's use of Himalayan mountain landscapes for a global branding exercise, the 'Rising Dragon' fireworks in 2025. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

A photograph of a promotional art event in the Himalayas staged by Arc'teryx in collaboration with artist Cai Guo-Qiang showing colourful fireworks exploding in a snaking path pattern up the side of a snow-topped mountain.

142

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

New in The GJ: 'Commercialisation and visitor perceptions of Cairo's urban parks: A machine learning analysis of user-generated images' by Abdelbaseer A. Mohamed This study analyses Google reviews of public parks in Cairo to examine visitor perception. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Abdelbaseer A. Mohamed (2026) entitled: 'Commercialisation and Visitor Perceptions of Cairo's Urban Parks: A Machine Learning Analysis of User-Generated Images' with a blue banner at the top.

Urban parks in rapidly growing cities serve multiple functions. However, the interplay between natural aesthetics, recreation and commercialisation remains underexplored, especially in the Global South. This study analysed 3179 user-generated Google Reviews images from 17 public parks in Cairo. We applied topic modelling, K-means clustering and associative word analysis to examine visitor perceptions. Three main themes emerged: Family & Recreation, Natural Scenery & Greenery, and Crowds & Urban Activity. The analysis revealed both distinctive park identities and common commercial features, such as restaurants and ticketed facilities. Clustering highlighted a spectrum of park experiences, from natural, low-commercial spaces to highly commercialised, family-focused destinations. Findings show that commercialisation not only enhances attractiveness and recreational opportunities but also affects accessibility and place identity. This research provides a framework for understanding visitor perceptions and supports sustainable and inclusive park management in urban contexts of the Global South.

010

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

The latest RGS-IBG Research Spotlight focuses on work by Rory Coulter in a recently published GJ paper on housing inequality & ethnic disparities in overcrowding. Read the original paper here: doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

001

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

New in The GJ! 'The plural lives of e-waste: Valuation and contestation in Accra's recycling network(s)' by Ebenezer Gyampoh Amoah This paper extends conceptualisations of e-waste, exploring how valuation, informality, & governance are co-produced in African cities. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

doi.org

The Geographical Journal | RGS Research Journal | Wiley Online Library

Electronic waste (e-waste) in Accra is shown to be plural and ontologically multiple, enacted as livelihood, commodity, hazard, governance object and political actor across dispersed recycling networ...

022

Reposted by The Geographical Journal

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Are you a physical geographer looking for an editorial opportunity? Join the wonderful team at The Geographical Journal - details below⬇️

027

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Are you a physical geographer looking for an editorial opportunity? Join the wonderful team at The Geographical Journal - details below⬇️

027

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

New in The GJ: 'The (im)possibilities of repopulation: How supply-side factors hinder the revitalisation of vacant houses in rural mountain regions' by Bernhard Grüner & Elisabeth Gruber This paper is part of an ongoing Special Section: 'Depopulating Places'. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

doi.org

The Geographical Journal | RGS Research Journal | Wiley Online Library

Industrialisation has reshaped European rural areas, leading to both depopulation and, in some cases, lifestyle-driven repopulation. Our research highlights supply-side barriers to Alpine repopulatio...

031

The Geographical Journal @thegj.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

New in The GJ: 'Map and archival evidence of the historical avulsion of the Brahmaputra river' by Keith Richards et al. This paper pieces together evidence surrounding the avulsion of the Brahmaputra in the late-eighteenth century to suggest its causes. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract by Keith Richards, Hugh Brammer & Patricia Saunders (2025) entitled: 'Map and Archival Evidence of the Historical Avulsion of the Brahmaputra River' with a blue banner at the top.

The Brahmaputra River is one of the world's largest rivers, entering the Bengal Basin from its extensive Himalayan catchment, flowing south through Bangladesh, and joining the Ganges to traverse a complex fan-delta and enter the Bay of Bengal. When Major James Rennell surveyed the river to establish the ‘Route Surveys’ for the East India Company between 1765 and 1777, it followed a different course, turning to the South-East into the Sylhet Basin, and joining the Meghna. Some time after this, it changed its course—it avulsed—and a re-survey was undertaken by Captain Richard Wilcox in 1828–1830 which first showed its present-day southerly route. However, there is uncertainty about when, why, and how this major adjustment occurred, and these questions can only be answered with recourse to archival materials. This paper accordingly pieces together information in the writings of travellers and East India Company officials in the region in the period between 1787 and 1854; evidence of boundary changes in 1806; archival material indicating that the East India Company was concerned enough about declining flow in the ‘Old’ Brahmaputra to consider engineering works by 1845; and contemporary evidence of the widespread impact of severe monsoon floods in 1787; to conclude that the avulsion probably took place rather earlier than often assumed. And intriguingly, it seems that although Rennell left India in 1777, in the first edition of his Memoir published after those floods had occurred (1788), he inserted a brief reference to the Brahmaputra changing its course.

030

Reposted by The Geographical Journal

Antal Wozniak @antalwozniak.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

@jillhopke.bsky.social and I took a closer look at reporting of the climate risk of soil health degradation due to flooding and drought in the UK press. You can read our research paper (open access) in The Geographical Journal.

023