The physical and human landscapes we occupy are complex and constantly changing. Making sense of these dynamic landscapes is what geography is all about.
Geographers offer a spatial perspective on the events, ideas and processes that shape our world. Geography is an integrative discipline, drawing upon and synthesizing a wide range of specialized knowledge in order to make sense of phenomena as it occurs on the ground.
Geography is comprised of three major sub-groups: physical geography, human geography and cartography. Physical geography is an earth science that seeks to explain the interactions of the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere in shaping physical landscapes. Human geography is a social science that seeks to explain the influence of humans on the landscape; in other words, the spatial organization of cultural, political and economic activity. Cartography is the science of map making and spatial representation, which more recently includes the use of digital technology and geographic information science (GIScience).
Some of the areas of study in Geography at UNBC include:
- The environment
- Human-environment interactions
- Glaciers
- Rivers
- Climate change
- Community development
- Human rights
- International development
- Indigenous land rights
- Health and health care delivery
- Conservation
- Natural resources
- Consumption; and more!