Webinar - What Makes Geography Geographical?

Dr Alaric Maude.

Join us for the webinar via https://bit.ly/2ABw1ue

Geographers have spent many decades debating how to, and sometimes whether to, define the discipline of geography. For academic geographers the question may not be particularly important because they just get on with their research, and follow that wherever it happens to lead them. For geography in education the question is important, because a school subject must be able to explain what it adds to an already crowded curriculum. The question is also important when we try to explain our subject to non-geographers, whether parents, principals, Vice-Chancellors or community leaders. The lecture reviews different ways of defining geography, and argues for viewing the subject as a way of thinking based on four key concepts — place, space, environment and interconnection. The meaning of each of these concepts for geography will be reviewed, with illustrations of their application taken from recent studies of the coronavirus epidemic. Their contribution to the current Australian geography curriculum may also be identified.

About Alaric Maude

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, raised in various islands of the Pacific and in New Zealand, and transported to Sydney at the age of 12. BA from Sydney University and PhD from the ANU. First academic job was at the University of Tasmania (1964-67) and then Flinders University in Adelaide (1967-2004). Have done research in Tonga, Sumatra (Indonesia), Kelantan (Malaysia) and various parts of Australia, on people-environment relationships, migration and regional development. Since retirement in 2004 have been Secretary of the Institute of Australian Geographers (2004-2012), Lead Writer and Writing Coach for the Australian Geography curriculum (2009-2013), Editor of the South Australian Geographical Journal (2005-2011), and Chair of the National Committee for Geographical Sciences of the Academy of Science (2013-2017).

Please note: the lecture will be recorded, therefore we ask that you mute your microphone and turn your camera off during the webinar. You will have the chance to ask questions via the lecture chat.