International Geographical Union

Union Géographique Internationale

Unión Geográfica Internacional

Commission "Global Change and Human Mobility"

Commission "Changement global et mobilité humaine"

Comisión"Cambio Global y Movilidad Humana"

Chair's greetings

Dear colleagues

Together with Barbara Staniscia, Scientific Secretary, I am delighted to continue in my role of Chairperson with the programme of the International Geographical Union (IGU) Commission on Global Change and Human Mobility (Globility) during the next term (2020-2024), our last term.

Despite the impossibility to celebrate the 34th International Congress in Istanbul due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an International Geographical Union Virtual General Assembly was held on Aug 21, 2020, through a Zoom Meeting. The decision on the Global Change and Human Mobility Commission was to confirm its renewal.

We accepted the invitation of many of the Globility members to continue with our actions as Secretary and Chair, respectively, being responsible for the consolidation of a Commission created in the year 2000 by Prof. Armando Montanari (Chairperson) from Sapienza University of Rome and by Prof. Yoshitaka Ishikawa (Scientific Secretary) from Kyoto University and successfully strengthened in the period 2000-2012.

In the next term 2020-2024, Prof. Fonseca (Portugal), Prof. Goeler (Germany), Prof. Krisjane (Latvia), Prof. Li (United States of America), Dr. Mendoza (Mexico), and Prof. Michalkó (Hungary) will continue in their work, and four of the former members of the Steering Committee (Prof. Portnov, Prof. Montanari, Prof. Maharaj, and Prof. Ishikawa) have been replaced by four new members due to the mandate of the IGU Statute. We deeply thank their collaboration during the long period of 2008-2020.

Consequently, the Steering Committee of the Commission has been renewed involving Dr. Ogunleye-Adentona, Dr. Sassone, Dr. Singer, and Prof. Drbohlav - three female scientists and one male scientist - who geographically represent four continents: Africa (Ghana), America (Argentina), Asia (Japan), and Europe (Czech Republic). All these new members have been focused on the topic of Global Change and Human Mobility for long time. They have been actively supporting the meetings promoted by the Commission and have enthusiastically collaborated in the dissemination of all the Globility scientific initiatives. At the same time, the former Chair and Scientific Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Montanari and Prof. Ishikawa, have become honorary members, as a recognition of their permanent support to the objectives and actions of the Commission.

The achievements of the Commission are witnessed by the large number of current members (191), representing 53 countries, as well as by the numerous conferences, workshops, and publications promoted by Globility during its existence (2000-2020). With the collaboration of all the members, we are taking the responsibility from 2020 to 2024, and we want to convey our motivation and determination to succeed in the new stage.

The Globility Commission is specialized in international mobility, a key element in the world changes, more necessary than ever after the radical transformations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. When immobility has gained ground and mobility “stays on pause” reflecting on the future relations between mobility and global changes in the post-pandemic world from a socio- economic, cultural, and geographical perspective becomes crucial. These circumstances confirm that global change and human mobility are two extremely important aspects of geographical science, two fields in which the most valuable assets of Globility – its members – are specialized.

We are counting on all of you, and on any other researcher interested in these subjects, to help us to consolidate this scientific knowledge in the next future.

Yours sincerely,

Josefina Domínguez-Mujica