The 2021-22 school year has been a successful one for the Toronto Undergraduate Geography Society (TUGS). While transitioning back to in-person learning and academic activities, TUGS fostered and organized a variety of student events, both in-person and virtual. This included academic seminars across the multiple undergraduate programs of study, featuring professors, researchers, and graduate students. Speakers Amanda Lohder and Cathal Doherty lead the Physical Geography Research Seminar and Professor Jeff Allen presented the GIS Academic Seminar. For human geography students, TUGS hosted the Next Steps Seminar in collaboration with the Urban Studies Student Union (URSSU), featuring geography alum Alex Walter and urban studies alum Nikki Pagaling, both of whom shared their valuable insights on life after graduating.
In addition to academic events, TUGS also hosted a variety of student socials. Initially these took place on Zoom or through asynchronous social media contests, including photography and art submissions. Most recently, TUGS wrapped up the school year with the first in-person pub social. The success of this event has made us hopeful to continue to plan in-person events in the 2022-23 school year.
Looking towards the future, TUGS also worked with the Department of Geography & Planning on the annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Survey to engage students and learn what they would like improved within the program. This included feedback on current courses, timetables, requirements, accessibility, diversity, inclusion, and transitioning back to in-person learning that will help inform ongoing planning.
TUGS would like to thank all of the students and staff who supported the society this year, and we are looking forward to hosting more collaborations, projects and social events in the next school year!