CSG Information

Call for Papers to multiple Climate Sessions at the 2026 AAG Annual Meeting 

The Climate Specialty Group (CSG) of the American Association of Geographers (AAG) is pleased announce calls for papers to three different sessions at the AAG Annual Meeting in San Francisco (March 17-21, 2026):

1.      Climate Research in Geography (Paper Session)

2.      Climate Research in Geography (Poster Session)

3.      Student Paper Competition session (Paper Session)

The first two sessions are meant to be open to a variety of presentations from geographers undertaking a broad-range of climate science research. If interested in participating in either of these two general Climate Research sessions, please contact CSG Chairperson, Cameron C. Lee (at cclee@kent.edu), with the title of your abstract, and your abstract code (and indicate if it will be a paper or a poster).

The third session is specifically for students participating in the Climate Specialty Group’s annual Student Paper Competition. Note, students in the competition are not required to present in *THIS* special session, you are only required to present a paper at the annual meeting. There are cash prizes for the student paper competition (1st place: $250; 2nd Place: $175; 3rd Place: $100). If interested in the CSG Student Paper Competition, please contact CSG JEDI Director, Dr. Md. Rafiq Islam (mrislam@ua.edu) with the title of your abstract, and your abstract code before December 1.

Note the deadline for submitting an abstract for the AAG Annual Meeting is October 30.

March 2026 Election

In accordance with the CSG Bylaws, we will hold an online election for the position of Vice Chair to the CSG Board of Directors. The new Vice Chair's two-year term will begin on July 1, 2026 when the current Vice Chair (Laiyin Zhu) will assume the Chair position. 

The Vice Chair shall also serve as Chair-elect, and as Acting Chair if the Chair is vacated. An elected Vice Chair, in their role as Chair-elect, shall automatically assume the position of Chair when the current Chair’s term has expired. The Vice Chair will also serve as Treasurer of the CSG, and as such, will coordinate the financial affairs of the CSG with the AAG, and will present an annual financial report at the AGM. The Vice Chair will also serve as Secretary of the CSG, and as such will take minutes of all Board meetings and AGMs. The Vice Chair shall be responsible for organizing the CSG Reception at each AAG annual meeting.

Nominations (including self-nominations) will be received between January 15 and February 15, 2026. Look for an announcement on the CSG Listserv at that time. The election will take place online between March 17-31. More information to follow.

Information on Raising Dues

In March 2025, after approval by a the CSG Board, and a vote by the whole CSG Membership, the annual dues for membership in the CSG were raised to $15 for full members, and $5 for student members. 

March 2025 Board of Directors Election Results

The Climate Specialty Group (CSG) of the American Association of Geographers (AAG) held an online election from March 17-31, 2025 for three positions that opened up on the CSG Board of Directors due to expiring terms. The winners of the 2025 CSG Election are as follows: 

Honors Director: Zhiying Li (Indiana University)

JEDI Director: Md. Rafiq Islam (University of Alabama)

Young Scholars Director: Ruth Abagna (University of Northern Iowa)

Zhiying, Rafiq and Ruth joined Cameron Lee (as Chair) and Laiyin Zhu (as Vice Chair) on the CSG Board of Directors beginning on July 1, 2025, and will serve two year terms (through June 30, 2027).