Geography and environmental studies

Geography explores the ways that people and places are connected. On the surface this appears to be a simple connection, yet our research demonstrates the complex entanglements and consequences that arise out of various spatial, political, social, cultural, economic and environmental knowledges, practices and processes. The intersection of these is where Science sits.

Future directions for the Discipline must address the existential threat of climate change, its deeper causes, and the differential impacts it will have across communities and places. Geography is uniquely positioned to do so – indeed, this work is already underway. An important research trajectory involves acknowledging different ways of understanding the world and how these understandings shape places and environments. Indigenous frameworks of relationality and reciprocity, which translate into Country-led research projects, exemplify such work and offer an important pathway for more just and sustainable futures. Research which helps to foreground equity and care will be vital for navigating times of change, not just for human communities but also ecological communities. Lastly, a challenge for all Science disciplines is to find effective ways of communicating research to a broader public, to better inform policy and participation, and to help foster resilience for all people and places.