“The Summer Institute for Economic Geography (SIEG) is a one-of-a-kind event, bringing together researchers across a variety of themes around one of geography’s most dynamic subdisciplines. The SIEG had many strengths, but a few come to mind. SIEG was inclusive, meaning that participation was equally split between quantitative and qualitative researchers, as well as between men and women. SIEG included perspectives from around the globe (literally), and even the “expert panel” of senior scholars comprised a diversity of intellectual traditions and methodological approaches. Another strength was that delegates were evenly divided between PhD students, post-docs, and junior faculty, which made conversations about publishing, grantsmanship, and careers quite useful. The personal interactions were the most worthwhile aspect for me, and my work on gentrification was recently published in Urban Studies with a co-author that I met at the Summer Institute in Zurich.”

Thomas Sigler, PhD, Lecturer in Human Geography, School of Geography, Planning & Environmental Management, University of Queensland

“I attended the SIEG 2014 in Frankfurt-am-Main. I really enjoyed the stimulating conversation and the friendly environment. I am thankful to organizers for their capacity to create a friendly environment facilitating creative scientific discussions. I strongly recommend the SIEG to all my colleagues.”

Nicola Francesco Dotti, PhD, postdoctoral researcher, Cosmopolis, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

“The 2014 Summer Institute in Economic Geography was one of the most important academic events I have had the fortune of attending. While every facet of the meeting was superlative, the opportunity to spend time with economic geographers from different parts of the world, working on diverse topics, was invaluable both intellectually and socially. These connections will bear fruit throughout my career and have already led to collaborative projects that would not have happened otherwise.”

Patrick Bigger, PhD, Marie Curie Research Fellow in Political Ecology, School of Environment and Development, University of Manchester

“I attended the 2012 Summer Institute in Zurich, and it continues to rank among the most important professionalization experiences I have ever had. Not only did I form enduring intellectual connections and personal friendships—often with economic geographers in other subfields whose work I would not have encountered otherwise—but I gained a far better sense of how my work might help advance the discipline as a whole. As an intensive, multi-day experience with a select group of scholars, the workshop spurred a depth of engagement and discussion not possible at most conferences—I have often referred to its design for ideas on how to facilitate more substantial, genuinely transformative academic exchanges.”

Sarah Knuth, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, University of Michigan

“It was an honor to participate in the Summer Institute in Economic Geography in Zurich! I have never thought that I could communicate face-to-face with those big names printed inside the top journals of economic geography. Over the years, the summer institute has built a bridge between western and non-western economic geographers, allowing me and other young participants have the precious chance to introduce our work. Most of all, I have built solid friendships with some young scholars with shared research interests, with continuing benefits for me. With best wishes for the future of our Summer Institute in Economic Geography!”

Juncheng Dai, PhD, Lecturer, Cultural Economics Research Institute, Central University of Finance and Economics, China