International Congress Brings Geographers from Czechia, Slovakia and around the World to Košice
From September 7th to 10th, 2026, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice hosted the 4th Joint Congress of the Czech Geographical Society and the Slovak Geographical Society, entitled Geography in the Changing World, under the auspices of the University Rector, Professor Daniel Pella. The event was organised by our Institute of Geography in cooperation with both national geographical societies.
The congress continued the tradition of national and joint Czech and Slovak geographical congresses while adding a strong international dimension to this well-established event. The keynote speakers included Professor Nathalie Lemarchand, President of the International Geographical Union (IGU), and Professor Zoltán Kovács, President of the Association of Geographical Societies in Europe (EUGEO). Together with representatives of Slovak Geographical Society (Professor Martin Boltižiar) and Czech Geographical Society (Dr. Jiří Preis), they attended an official meeting hosted by the university rector, Professor Daniel Pella, the university vice-rector and chair of scientific committee of the congress Professor Jaroslav Hofierka, the dean of the Faculty of Science at university Associate Professor Roman Soták, the vice-dean and member of the organising committee Associate Professor Michal Gallay, and the head of the Institute of Geography and chair of the organising committee Associate Professor Ladislav Novotný.
The congress welcomed nearly 300 geographers from academic and research institutions from Algeria to New Zealand. As many as 230 geographers participated in the scientific programme. Almost 40 geography teachers from primary and secondary schools attended the Didactic Day, the inclusion of which reflects the importance we place on the geography education. Other participants included representatives of the business sector, highlighting the connection between geography and professional practice, as well as other invited guests.
The scientific programme covered a broad range of topics reflecting the dynamics of the changing world. It also demonstrated geography's capacity as a discipline to respond to diverse emerging challenges and crises, while embracing the opportunities offered by technological progress and artificial intelligence. In addition to the scientific programme and Didactic Day, the congress devoted particular attention to discussing opportunities for geographers to apply for prestigious ERC grants. The general assemblies of the Slovak Geographical Society and the Association of Slovak Geomorphologists were held as well. Further programme partly took place in the field, where excursions allowed participants to observe specific manifestations of geographical relationships directly in the city and its surrounding area. During their free time, participants could also take advantage of free guided visits to selected museums and the botanical garden. These activities complemented the broad thematic scope of geography reflected throughout the congress programme. The congress also provided opportunities to establish contacts and develop cooperation among scholars in particular geographical disciplines from different countries. The social time connected geography with culture and introduced musical ensembles that included employees, alumni, or students at our institute.
Further information about the congress and the themes of its scientific programme is available in the University press release and in the report published by the Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information.
An overview of the topics presented at the Congress is available in the Book of Abstracts.
A report provides further information on Geography Education Day.
The atmosphere of the event is reported in the Congress photo gallery.
