The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland Ltd

29/09/2026

"Receiving the RGSQ Student Scientific Studies Research Grant provided valuable support for advancing my research, particularly by facilitating fieldwork and analytical work.”

Dr Bohao D**g, recipient of the inaugural 2024 RGSQ Student Scientific Studies Research Grant, used the support of the Environmental Fund to advance research into seasonal palaeoenvironmental conditions during the late Little Ice Age, reconstructed from a giant clam that lived broadly between 1785 and 1827.

The RGSQ Environmental Fund helps make this kind of work possible.

Donate to the RGSQ Environmental Fund: https://rgsq.org.au/donate

22/09/2026

What does the RGSQ Environmental Fund support?

Recent student grants have contributed to:
• Research into seasonal palaeoenvironmental conditions during the late Little Ice Age, reconstructed from a giant clam that lived broadly between 1785 and 1827
• Field-based research in Bundaberg exploring labour mobility and regional community experiences
• Investigation of sediment transport and reef island stability on the Great Barrier Reef

These projects reflect the breadth and applied nature of research supported by The RGSQ Environmental Fund.

Donations are tax deductible.

If you'd like to support the next generation of environmental research, donate at https://rgsq.org.au/donate

15/09/2026

🌊 What’s the catch with the seafood on your plate?

Australians eat plenty of seafood, but around 70% of what we consume is imported. So where does it come from, and how sustainable is it?

Join The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland Ltd for our October RGSQ Lecture with Dr Rosa Dominguez Martinez, marine conservation scientist and Postdoctoral Researcher at The University of Queensland.

Rosa will take us from ocean to plate, exploring the environmental and social sustainability of Australia’s seafood supply. Her research examines whether the seafood we consume may be linked to threatened species, illegal fishing or modern slavery and whether international laws and agreements are working.

She’ll also look at what Australia can do to improve seafood sustainability, along with practical advice for making more sustainable seafood choices.

Tuesday 6 October 2026
7:30–9:00 pm
Gregory Place, Level 1/28 Fortescue St, Spring Hill
Or join via Zoom

🐟 What’s on your plate may have a much bigger story behind it.

Register at: https://rgsq.org.au/event-6828802

25/08/2026

Geography Now: An Emerging Researchers Showcase 🌏

What are the next generation of geographers researching?

Join RGSQ for Geography Now, our annual emerging researchers showcase, hosted by the Young Geographers.

Hear from postgraduate students and early career professionals as they present their research in a series of fast-paced 15-minute presentations, covering a range of contemporary geographical topics, perspectives, methods and technologies.

The presentations will be followed by a panel-style Q&A, giving the audience an opportunity to explore the research in more depth and put their questions to the speakers.

Tuesday 1 September 2026
7:30–9:00pm (AEST)
Gregory Place, Level 1/28 Fortescue St, Spring Hill
Also available via Zoom

So, come along and support the next generation of geographical researchers!

Registrations are open and we hope to see you there: https://rgsq.org.au/event-6804597

10/08/2026

A reminder that The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland and the University of Queensland School of the Environment have organised a public forum with an excellent panel of speakers to present some critical perspectives on Immigration in Australia. We hope you can join us for this important event.

🗓️ Friday 28 August, 2026
🕰️ 1:45-5pm; please arrive by 1.30pm
followed by St Lucy’s café for social drinks 5-7pm

VENUE: The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Andrew N. Liveris building 46 room 342

CHAIRS: Dr Iraphne Childs, RGSQ; Assoc. Prof. Thomas Sigler, UQ-SENV
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Associate Prof. Elin Charles-Edwards UQ SENV “Australian Immigration Trends: Composition, Sources and Prospects”
SPEAKERS:
- Assoc. Prof. Aude Bernard UQ-SENV
“Becoming permanently temporary: a population-level analysis of visa trajectories in Australia 2006-2023”
- Assoc. Prof. Thomas Sigler UQ-SENV
“Four Brisbanes, Three Melbournes: Exploring Clustering in International Migration Populations”
- Dr. Rennie Lee UQ-ISSR
“Longitudinal Pathways of Student Visa Holders”

ATTENDANCE COST (includes afternoon tea)
General public: $20 (Zoom $10)
RGSQ Members: $5 (Zoom $5)
UQ Staff free
Students free

Register at https://rgsq.org.au/event-6574798

04/08/2026

What's On at RGSQ – August 2026

August is packed with opportunities to explore geography from new perspectives.

This month's events include:

Tue 4 August | 7:30 pm
Monthly Lecture
Chronourbanism: Planning, Designing and Monitoring Urban and Regional Development According to Time Rather Than Distance

Thu 6 August | 10:00 am
Mapping Queensland
Map Group Presentation

Fri 7 August | 5:30 pm
Geography Writing Competition Awards Night

Wed 26 August | 8:30 am
Wallum Wildflower Ecology
RGSQ Traveller Event

Fri 28 August | 1:30 pm
Immigration in Australia
Public Forum

All events are open for registration, with members receiving discounted entry to eligible events.

Visit https://rgsq.org.au/ to register.

We look forward to welcoming you to RGSQ this August.

17/07/2026

09/07/2026

🌏 What if we planned our cities by time instead of distance?

How far can you really get in 20 or 30 minutes? The answer depends on far more than kilometres.

On Tuesday 4 August join the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland for a lecture with Dr Anthony Kimpton, University of Southern Queensland - Australia, as he explores - an emerging approach to urban and regional planning that is reshaping how governments think about accessibility, transport, and liveable communities.

From the "30-minute city" to the "10-minute neighbourhood", time-based planning has become central to policy across Australia. But are these ideas actually delivering on their promise?

Tuesday, 4 August 2026
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Gregory Place, Level 1, 28 Fortescue Street, Spring Hill
Also available live via Zoom

Register at https://rgsq.org.au/event-6755225

11/06/2026

🌏 Immigration in Australia – Public Forum

How is immigration shaping Australia's future? On Friday 28 August join us for an afternoon of expert insights and discussion as leading researchers explore the trends, challenges, and opportunities associated with immigration in Australia.

The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland and The University of Queensland School of the Environment are pleased to present a public forum featuring a distinguished panel of speakers examining immigration from demographic, economic, social, and geographic perspectives.

Keynote Address
• Associate Professor Elin Charles-Edwards – Australian Immigration Trends: Composition, Sources and Prospects

Featured Speakers
• Associate Professor Aude Bernard – Migration and Population Ageing: Evaluating Policy Trade-offs
• Associate Professor Thomas Sigler – Four Brisbanes, Three Melbournes: Exploring Clustering in International Migration Populations
• Dr Rennie Lee – Longitudinal Pathways of Student Visa Holders

Afternoon tea included, followed by social drinks at St Lucy's Café from 5:00–7:00pm.

Places are limited. Register at https://rgsq.org.au/event-6574798

09/06/2026

🌾 Lecture Recording Now Available – Famine to Feast: History of the Australian Fertilizer Industry 🌾

Australia is an ancient continent with some of the most nutrient-poor soils in the world. Yet our agricultural sector feeds not only Australia's 28 million people but also millions more around the globe, with around three-quarters of our agricultural production exported. This remarkable achievement would not be possible without fertilizers.

In this fascinating presentation, Garry Kuhn, traces the history of the fertilizer industry from the use of manure, bones, guano and nitrate deposits through to the development of superphosphate and the revolutionary Haber-Bosch process, often described as the most important technological advancement of the 20th century.

The lecture also explores Australia's pioneering role in fertilizer manufacturing, from the first commercial superphosphate production at Yarraville in 1878 to the development of ammonia production at Brisbane's Gibson Island plant, and examines the challenges facing the industry today.

With an estimated 50% of global crop yields attributable to commercial fertilizers, this is a compelling story of science, industry, food security, and Australia's agricultural development.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9OXmWorRr0

The Australian landscape is aged in geological terms. It is an anci...