Summary Report of the AGA Executive Committee Meeting 2020

Summary Report of the AGA Executive Committee Meeting 2020

The Asian Geographical Association Executive Committee Meeting 2020 was held on Oct. 22nd, 2020 in the form of virtual meeting. All of the eight EC members of the AGA and four observers attended this online event.

The meeting was chaired by Professor Dahe Qin, President of the AGA. Qin welcomed the members present and wished everyone good health during the pandemic. Then Qin announced the agenda of the meeting which was then adopted.

Ms. Xuanzi Zhang, Secretary and Treasurer of the AGA made a brief introduction on the minutes of AGA EC meeting 2019. The minutes were approved. Then Zhang made a detailed presentation on the AGA work report 2020. She introduced the progress that EC members have been made on trying to expand the network of the AGA community in the past year. She shared information on the activities of the existing working groups and proposal on establishing new working group, updates from Asian Geographer for the year 2020 and some upcoming events sponsored by the AGA. She also reported the cooperation proposal from the IGU and development on the AGA newsletter and website.

Then Vice President of the AGA, Professor Lai Vinh Cam reported on the progress of the 5th Asian Conference on Geography on behalf of the local organizer in Vietnam. Here are the details:

•  Website is completed and available online: acg2021.tnu.edu.vn

•  Theme: Geography in Dynamic Asia

•  Important Dates

Deadline for abstract papers and poster submission: 15 April, 2021 (may be extended to 15 May if needed)

Notification of acceptance: 30 May, 2021

Full paper submission (Option): 15 August, 2021

•  Keynote speakers and Conference Key Topics

Lai Vinh Cam asked EC members to recommend 5-7 keynote speakers and also session chairs according to the following key topics:

Sustainable Development

Interaction between Environments and Human activities

Globalization and Localization

Migration and Conflicts

Urbanization and the future of Asian cities

Natural resources and environmental issues

Disasters

Climate Changes & Ecosystem

Remote sensing & GIS

•  Scientific Committee & Organizing Committee

http://acg2021.tnu.edu.vn/committee/

•   Support from Thai Nguyen University (TNU)

TNU agreed to provide 10, 000 USD to support the conference, the conference still need more funds from other sources.

•  Estimated Registration Fee

Participant: 200 USD; Student: 150 USD

•    Visa & Travel information have been put online

Cam hoped the pandemic will disappear soon and the conference can be held in person as expected.

Then the meeting was followed by an open discussion. Some issues were put forward and discussed, including inquiries on the field excursion of the 5th ACG, proposals on organizing special session for young geographers and also possibility of collaboration with journals on publishing special issue selecting excellent papers of the conference.

At last, Qin concluded the meeting by making a brief summary on the progress that AGA has made during the past year and thanked everyone present at the Zoom Meeting for their contribution to the AGA. He also wished all good health and hoped everyone will get together again in Vietnam next year.

AGA Executive Committee Virtual Meeting 2020,

Oct. 22nd, 2020