MERGA

Surfing the waves of mathematics education

Location

Venue Information

The conference will be held at Griffith University’s Gold Coast campus, located at Parklands Dr, Southport QLD 4222. The campus blends modern architecture with the natural beauty of the surrounding area, offering a stimulating environment for learning.

Almost all the conference sessions will be on the ground floor of Building G30 circled in yellow on the map below (click to enlarge):

The easiest way to get to the venue is on the light rail which travels from Broadbeach, through Surfer’s Paradise and Southport to the campus, and then on to the Helensvale train station. The closest light rail station is ‘Griffith University’ (circled in red on the map) – from here it is a 2-minute stroll to G30.

If you are driving, then there is casual parking in Building G55 (circled in green) and costs $6 per day. The entrance to the car parking building is on Griffith Way. You can pay using the PayStay app, or there is a machine at the bottom of the stairs. From G55 you stroll 10 minutes) north over the footbridge to the conference venue.

Image credits: Griffith University

Conference Dinner - Q1 Resort

The MERGA conference dinner is scheduled to take place at the Q1 Resort on Tuesday 2nd July 2024.

Location

The Q1 Resort is located at 9 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise, Queensland 4217. The Q1 resort is one of the most iconic buildings in the area.
Image Credits: Q1 Resort

Accommodation

The Gold Coast offers a range of accommodation options to suit different preferences and budgets, for example, (in no particular order):

Pinnacle on the Park: Just 0.8 km from Griffith University, this sustainable apartment complex offers a serene garden view and modern amenities. 

Mantra at Sharks Hotel: Situated in Southport, 0.9km from the campus, it’s surrounded by dining and entertainment options and boasts a multipurpose events centre.

Seaworld Resort: Located on Broadwater, with direct access to Sea World and only 15 minutes’ walk from the popular Surfers Paradise and Marina Mirage Shopping area. It is located 4.6 km from Griffith University.

The Sheraton: Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Gold Coast features a pool bar and direct beach access. It is 4.7 km from Griffith University.

Meriton Suites Broadbeach: Known for its luxury and proximity to the beach. It is located 4 km from Griffith University.

The Ruby Gold Coast Apartments by CLLIX has provided a discount code MERGAAC2024 (https://www.cllix.com/) to give a 10% discount on their website prices from 30 June–4 July.

If the prices are truly terrifying then there are hostels/pod hotels such as capsuleaccom.com. 

For participants preferring to stay in the city centre, Surfers Paradise offers several alternative accommodation options. See sites like Booking.com, Wotif, Expedia and TripAdviser for more details. If accommodation is showing as sold out on those sites you may still be able to book direct (which may also be cheaper).

AirBNB may be an option for solo travellers and groups willing to share. Motels may also provide cost-effective accommodation. 

Image credit: QT Hotel
Image credit: Q1 Resort

Travel

Tram/light Rail: The G:link Gold Coast Light Rail Network is a convenient and efficient way to travel between Hotels on the Gold Coast (such as those at Surfers Paradise and the Q1 Resort where the conference dinner will be held) and Griffith University. The Surfers Paradise G:link Station is located right at the doorstep of Q1 Resort. G:link timetables and fare information is available online.

Alternatively city taxi services can be reached on 131008 or perhaps a MaxiTaxi may be perfect for your group.

Image credit: G:link/James Jinn-Jy Lin/TripAdvisor

Travelling from the Gold Coast Airport

 Travel to and from the Gold Coast is convenient, with multiple options from flying to train/tram, car hire, or shuttle/taxi (for larger groups).

The Gold Coast is serviced by the Gold Coast Airport (see map, airport code OOL), with frequent domestic (Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar) and some international flights (e.g. Air New Zealand/Singapore Air), making it accessible from various locations. 

The 777 bus runs seven days a week from the Gold Coast Airport to Broadbeach South (G:link) station. From here you can easily transfer to the G:link Gold Coast Light Rail Network (see below), which will take you to Griffith University via Surfers Paradise.

Con-x-ion shuttle busses and hotel transfer busses are available to major locations including hotels (see hotel websites for details of transfer busses). Alternatively a taxi costs up to $90 for the 45 minute drive (approximately 30km).  Uber also operates from the Gold Coast Airport. 

 

Travelling from Brisbane

Brisbane Airport (see map, airport code BNE) is to the northeast of Brisbane city, and convenient transfer into Brisbane city and to the Gold Coast is by Airtrain, Shuttle or Greyhound Bus (see below). Uber also operates in Brisbane where there are multiple hotels if you have time for an overnight en-route. 

For those seeking more flexibility, driving (hire cars are available at the airport or city centre, Brisbane) or taking a taxi (taxi would be about $250) may be viable options especially for larger groups, with the area well-connected by roads. Aggregating services such as Rental Cars will get you on the way to finding the right hire car. 

The Airtrain and Tram (Airtrain to G:link Tram) combination (see train/tram route map and timetable) offers a convenient and scenic route from Brisbane Airport to multiple G:link stops on the Gold Coast, departing every 15 minutes (peak) or 30 minutes (off peak) and taking approximately 1 hour and 42 minutes travel time. Buy a ticket for the entire route online in advance for a discount, or at Brisbane Airport. Transfer from the Airtrain at Helensvale Airtrain and Tram Station to the G:link Gold Coast Light Rail Network (train/tram route map), which will take you directly to Griffith University and tram stops near popular hotels on the coast. Private car and shared minibus transfers may be available from major hotels such as the Q1 Resort.

Payment on the G:link is either by debit/credit card (touch in/out) or buy a paper ticket/Go Card and top up with credit. A Go Card is the cheapest option. 

The Greyhound Bus leaves from Brisbane city centre (see map) to Surfers Paradise (three stops) three times per day, taking around 1 hour and 20 minutes.

The Brisbane Airport Con-x-ion Shuttle  operates to the Gold Coast for around $55 pp (one way, ride share). We recommend booking in advance in order to know what times they may be departing Brisbane Airport. 

Further details about travelling to and from the Gold Coast are available from RomeToRio or PointHacks, or possibly from your preferred hotel’s website. 

Visas

New Zealand Visitors
New Zealand passport holders can apply for a Special Category Visa (subclass 444) on arrival into Australia.
International Visitors
If you are travelling to the conference from further abroad (neither an Australian nor New Zealand passport) then you will need to apply for either an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) (subclass 601), an eVisitor (subclass 651) or a Business Visitor Visa (subclass 600); see the IMMI Rules for Entering Australia Including Visa Types and the associated explore the visa options button (select ‘Attending a Conference or Expo’ as an unpaid delegate, unless you are staying longer for other reasons). The ETA can be applied for using the App, is free, and takes a few days to process; the eVisitor is free and takes 24 hours to process; and the Business Visitor Visa costs $150 AUD and may take a month to process. Those outside the countries eligible for the ETA and eVisitor may need to apply for the Business Visitor Visa. 

Short Communications & Round Tables

The following documents are essential to read and complete when considering submitting a short communication or round table to the MERGA conference (available in the Submission section of this website).

  • MERGA Paper Template – to be used to write the abstracts which are then submitted to the MERGA conference website
  • MERGA Publication Agreement – to be submitted on the MERGA conference website at the time of the abstract submission

Submissions not exceeding one page are required for short communications and round tables. The submissions must be prepared using the conference template, and can include essential references. They will be reviewed by the Editorial Team and, if accepted, will be published in the conference proceedings as one-page abstracts (not as papers). Presenters are invited to prepare a paper for distribution at the conference, but these papers will not be included in the proceedings.

Short communications are suitable for reports on research in mathematics education that do not fully meet the requirements for published papers. These might include works in preliminary stages, reports of pilot projects, initial reviews of literature, ideas or suggestions for future study, and briefer discussions of particular issues. Short communications allow new researchers to obtain feedback on projects in a constructive and supportive environment, and foster the building of links between researchers with similar interests.

Short communications are presented by author(s) only, allocated half of the time for research reports (in past, this was 20 minutes). At least 5 minutes is to be allocated for audience questions and open discussion.

Round tables are suitable for presenters seeking involved interaction with the audience in relation to their research or topic of interest in mathematics education, and for those sharing their insights and advice with the early career colleagues. These might include discussion of an emerging topic, co-analysis of provided student work, solving a mathematical task, or discussing the demands and benefits of reviewing for high quality journals. Round tables allow finding peers with similar research interests, exploration of new research avenues, and building the capacity of MERGA community.

Round tables are led by author(s) only, allocated the same time as research reports (in past, this was 40 minutes). The abstracts should make clear the interactive element of the proposed activity, with no more than 15 min of the session time in a presentation mode.

Beth Southwell Practical Implications Award

The Beth Southwell Practical Implications Award (BSPIA) recognises high-quality mathematics education that produces insights for the teaching profession and/or student learning.

The award consists of $500 and a plaque to be presented at the Conference.

Nomination process 

There are two ways a paper can be nominated for the BSPIA:

  • Self-nomination: When you submit your conference paper, check the box that asks if you would like to apply for the BSPIA.
  • Nomination via peer-review: Anyone who submits a Conference paper for peer-review will be considered for nomination by the reviewers. 

Single and co-authored papers are eligible for consideration.

When you write your paper, please ensure that you observe all general paper submission requirements including the maximum page length.

Judging process

Submissions must be deemed eligible for publication in the Conference proceedings by the initial reviewing panel. Submissions accepted for presentation only will be excluded from consideration.

The judging panel will consist of two MERGA members and two AAMT nominees and will be chaired by the VP Development.

The judging criteria are:

  • Identification of a persistent and significant research problem
  • Synthesis of recent research literature and relevant policy initiatives
  • Robust methodology producing valid, reliable findings
  • Insightful discussion of practical implications for the teaching profession and/or student learning
  • Clear, succinct style of academic writing

Winners are notified four weeks prior to the Conference and are invited to present a keynote at the annual conference.

The Beth Southwell Practical Implications Award page on this website provides further information, including the history of the award and recent winners.  

Research Papers

The following documents are essential to read and complete when considering submitting a research paper to the MERGA conference (available in the Submission section of this website).

  • MERGA Paper Template – to be used to write the papers which are then submitted to the MERGA conference website
  • MERGA Publication Agreement – to be submitted on the MERGA conference website at the time of the paper submission

Research papers can take two major forms: 

1. Reports of empirical investigations 

When empirical investigations are reported (such as in an experimental intervention, confirmatory study, or action research, etc.), the paper should also include

  • a statement of rationale for methodologies used in collecting and analysing data;
  • a critical discussion of data findings in the light of the research literature; and
  • in the literature review, prior work in the area should be acknowledged and an explanation of how the work reported in the paper builds on that earlier work should be included.

2. Reports that are not based on empirical research including:

  • a theoretical discussion;
  • a position paper;
  • a report of scholarly enquiry in progress;
  • a literature review, a meta-study;
  • an account of a new initiative;
  • a reflective critique of practice; or
  • any mixture of these or other recognised scholarly forms.

When the work is a theoretical discussion, a position paper, a report of scholarly inquiry in progress, a review of literature, a theoretical study, a meta-study, an account of a new initiative, a reflective critique of practice or any mixture of these or other recognised scholarly forms, the material presented must be discussed critically, and alternative points of view relating to themes presented should be appropriately argued.
It is expected that presenting authors will have 40 minutes to present their work at the conference. At least 10 minutes must be allowed to field questions and comments from the audience.

Structure of research papers – All papers for publication in the conference proceedings should contain the following:

  • a statement of the problem/issue and a discussion of its significance;
  • a critical analysis of the research literature as it relates to the topic of the paper; and
  • conclusions and implications for mathematics education derived from the study.

All papers must respect MERGA’s ethical guidelines relating to research work. Papers should not be more than the set length. In addition, papers must be: readable; free of grammatical, spelling and typographical errors; and adhere strictly to style requirements advertised by the conference proceedings Editorial Team.

Originality – Only research papers that are substantially different from work that has been published previously will be considered for publication in the conference proceedings and/or presentation at the conference.

Reviewing of research papers – Research papers will be blind reviewed by a panel of peers approved by the conference committee. The main purpose of the refereeing process is to contribute to the growth and development of quality practice in mathematics education research. Thus reviewers are asked to assist authors by providing helpful feedback and to comment on the suitability of papers for presentation at the conference. Accordingly, it will not be assumed that published papers presented at the conference will be as polished as articles in scholarly journals. Referees will be asked to assess papers being reviewed against the accepted norms for scholarly works presented at MERGA conferences, as set out above.

Each conference proceedings’ Editorial Team will exercise discretion over the reviewing process. Reviewers’ comments will be returned to the authors. Authors whose papers are not accepted for publication may be invited by the editorial panel to present their paper at the conference as a Short Communication, with a 1-page abstract (which they will be invited to provide) being published in the proceedings. Papers may be rejected outright, with no opportunity for presentation at the conference in an alternative form.

Research Symposia

The following documents are essential to read and complete when considering submitting a research symposium to the MERGA conference (available in the Submission section of this website).

  • MERGA Paper Template (to be used to write the papers which are then submitted to the MERGA conference website)
  • MERGA Publication Agreement (to be submitted on the MERGA conference website at the time of the paper submission)

Presentation of groups of published papers related by theme in the form of a research symposium is encouraged. The symposium forum will be particularly suitable for presentations relating to a single large project or presentations that explore topical themes from different and/or related perspectives. Special Interest Groups [SIGs] are encouraged to consider the symposium option as a means for sharing and discussing current research.

A symposium should consist of no more than four presentations of about 15 minutes duration each. The written papers should be half the length of research papers as described for research papers. Both research report types – empirical or non-empirical – are acceptable as published symposium papers.

A brief overview of the symposium (limit one page), including a symposium title, an introduction to the theme/project, and a short introduction to each of the 3-4 contributions, must be submitted with the set of short papers. Please list the symposium convenors as the authors on the first page, and name the paper authors in the text description.

The symposium proposer will also nominate a person to chair the symposium, and a discussant can also be named if desired. This information should accompany the collection of papers submitted for review.

The set of symposium papers (and the overview) will be blind reviewed by a review panel. The main purpose of the reviews is the same as for published papers, and the same criteria are used. The reviewers will be asked to consider the cohesiveness of the set of symposium papers. They will indicate whether the symposium as a whole, and each paper within it, should be “accepted”, “rejected” or if it “requires revision”. If it is deemed that one, some or all of the papers are in need of revision, the reviewers will outline which papers need to be revised and provide suggestions for the required changes. When the revisions are made, the symposium papers will be re-submitted and the set of papers will be sent to the same review panel for further consideration. As with research papers, the final decision about which symposium papers will be published is at the discretion of the Editorial Team.

The date for submission of the collection of symposium papers is the same as for Early Bird papers. This date has been set for the benefit of the group of authors of symposia papers. Should the symposium papers require revision, the authors will have the time to make the corrections and resubmit the set of symposium papers to be re-reviewed by the original reviewers.

Presentation of symposia: Symposia are presented by author(s) only, usually within a 90 min block. At least 10 minutes must be allocated for audience questions and open discussion.

Early Career Research Award

In order to encourage new researchers in mathematics education, MERGA sponsors an award to an author in the early part of her/his career. The award, for excellence in writing and presenting a piece of mathematics education research, consists of a plaque and a prize of $500 and is presented at the annual conference. 

Applying for the award

Entry for the Early Career Research Award is by submission of a written paper for presentation at the conference through the Early Bird process. Conditions of eligibility, information about the judging process, and the criteria judges will observe are indicated below. If you are applying for the Early Career Research Award, please ensure that when you upload your paper on the conference website, you also send an email to the Conference Secretariat indicating that you are an entrant for the Early Career Research Award. Note that at some MERGA conferences there is also a form to complete or a box to tick on the registration form, so check the conference website carefully. Please note that co-authored papers ARE NOT eligible for entry into the Early Career Research Award, nor are Round Table or Symposium papers.

Rules and eligibility for the Early Career Award

The Early Career Research Award page on this website provides further information about this award, including a list of recent winners.

Early Bird Review Process

The Early Bird review process is a form of mentoring, principally for new researchers. However, anyone is eligible to make use of it. Research papers submitted through the Early Bird process must be received by the Early Bird due date (i.e., the closing date in January). They must meet the requirements as set out for MERGA Research Papers. Early Bird papers should be uploaded following a link on the conference website. Authors will be asked to create a login into Oxford Abstracts (our conference management system) and submit the blinded file (anonymised) in the correct template for review.

Early Bird papers undergo a double-blind MERGA reviewing process. There are three possible outcomes of the review, and actions the authors need to follow.

  1. When the paper is accepted (for presentation at the conference and publication in the proceedings), the authors will be asked to provide their full unblinded manuscript and publication agreement.
  2. When small revisions are required, the revised papers will need to be resubmitted by the main submission deadline in March. The changes are considered by the editors, and the papers are not usually sent out for review again. The editors decide whether the paper is accepted for publication as well as presentation at the conference.
  3. When more major revisions are required, the reviewers will provide the author/s with feedback on how to how to strengthen the paper. The paper will need to be resubmitted by the main submission deadline in March, and it will be sent out for a new double-blind review.

Authors are notified of the outcome as soon as possible (usually within a few weeks, and in time for resubmission). Letters are sent to authors to indicate (a) accepted for publication, (b) small revisions required, (c) or major rewriting required.