Post-AAG Reflection
Ryan Stock
EESG members,
Energizing and enlightening. Those are the two words that accurately describe our experiences and engagements with you all at the AAG Annual Meeting in Detroit last month. We are deeply grateful for your participation in our events at the conference, actually quite humbled by the consistent support and positive reception of the many things we planned. Numerous EESG events exceeded the allocated seating of the room, with some attendees adorning the walls and floors to remain in these insightful and inspiring yet ebullient spaces. Each day of the conference, I had people approach me from other subdisciplines and specialty groups reporting on the “buzz” and “hype” about our events and our group. While validating to our hard work as leaders of this group, it is actually a reflection of the enthusiastic efforts of all of you in attendance (virtual or physical) that is building this community. Honestly, AAG was really fun. Hanging out with geographically-dispersed old and new friends in Detroit was an absolute blast! The half-baked ideas for collaborations forged in the margins of the conference will sustain our professional productivity for years to come. And let’s be honest, doing good work with cool people can be an antidote to the soul-crushing grind of exploitative and extractive academia.
THANK YOU THANK YOU, from the bottom of our hearts. Over the past year, leveling-up the profile and impact of our subdiscipline has been our goal, and to see it actualized in Detroit was truly awesome! Until next AAG, we’ll keep organizing virtual opportunities to strengthen this convivial and prolific community of scholars and practitioners. In practice, we’ll continue to advance our subdiscipline and kindred disciplines by elaborating and amplifying policy-relevant and praxis-oriented work that reflects our normative commitments to equitable and sustainable social change.
Stay vigilant for invites to present and attend our forthcoming Energy Geography Conference, a Powershift Symposium and our recurring Speaker Series, in addition to annual awards and updates on our permanent campaigns (e.g. JEDI, climate action, pedagogy) and new collaborative initiatives. We’ll also be convening numerous virtual “coffee hours” and “listening sessions” to foster connections and receive feedback.
You are this specialty group. We will strive to empower you. Let’s keep connecting.
In solidarity,
Ryan Stock and Tiffany Grobelski
EESG Co-Chairs