This year, many of us are reflecting on the remarkable impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on our personal, social and professional lives. The worldwide hiatus in mobility caused significant disruption resulting in unemployment, supply chain shortages, social isolation, disruptions to business and economic downturns. Many began to work from home, to order in, and to walk and cycle. Public transport use decreased and pop-up cycling lanes appeared.
These adapted practices brought to light some of the hidden aspects of mobility justice. Essential workers, often those in precarious employment, were exposed to higher levels of risk from Covid-19 because they did not have the option to work from home. The pandemic, while catastrophic, has provided an opportunity for us to reflect on the importance of freedom of movement for everyday life and what this means in a world of overlapping crises.
We invite you to submit an abstract (150 words max) that addresses the theme of mobility justice, broadly conceived. Possible topics of discussion include:
- Gender and transport/mobility
- Workplaces, home spaces, commuting
- Integrating people with physical disabilities into the transport landscape
- Cycling and infrastructure in an automobility regime
- Underlying assumptions of smart city design
- Climate change adaptation and mobility
- Theoretical and conceptual approaches to mobility
- Methodological implications
details
We will start on Monday, 9 am, with the Welcome to Country by local Indigenous Elders. Over the two days, you will hear from leading and emerging academics in the field of mobilities research, have an opportunity to present your research, workshop ideas with fellow researchers, receive mentorship, and have the option to participate in several ‘infra-labs’ on site.
As a part of the symposium format, we will select papers to include in a special issue of Australian Geographer.
keynotes*
Mimi Sheller, Inaugural Dean of The Global School, Worcester Polytechnic Institute;
Carol Farbotko, The University of Melbourne
To register please click here
