WHAT ARE THE SKILLS OF A GEOGRAPHER?
Geographers look at the world and its issues
from a wide range of perspectives. That is why they are very attractive to
future employers. However what makes Geographers and those that do geography
uniquely different from other skills sets and professionals? What is a person practicing Geography doing
that others don’t do? Well they are making connections. The overriding and
main connection they are making in connecting the WHAT of a place or issue with
the WHERE of that same place. Geographers are always thinking of these two
parts of a Geographical question together. These are the spatial parameters of
places or those items that gives us all our sense of place. It is with this in mind that
the geographer needs to focus on specific skills and tools to better
demonstrate and explain the Where side
of the equation (WHAT +WHERE =PLACE)
Once
we have identified the where in this equation, Geographers want to look at the
reasons as to why a place is unique? In
other words Geographers want to look at the WHY THERE? And once again to
understand the uniqueness of the reasons that one place is different from another, Geographers need to call on specific skills and tools. Many of these tools are used in other areas and fields of endevours but when the
individual is using them they are always doing Geography.
Finally we are all citizens and participants
in families, neighborhoods, countries and the world. In other words we are all Global Citizens. And with this come a
number of rights and responsibilities. However Geographers have the ability to
apply their geographical and spatial skills to their specific focus. It is
important for everyone when they are working through Geographical issues or
problems that they are able to come up with answers both for themselves and for
society. In other words, they need to be able to answer WHY CARE? These answers
may reflect broad areas such as Social justice, environmental stewardship, and/ or sustainability. They may be more
specific as in making decisions such as those professionals like a
planner, geologist, or policeman. However all of these decisions are made using
the specific tools of Geography.
Geographers s are adept in collecting and analyzing
information using various technical and laboratory-based methods for the
collection and analysis of spatial and environmental information (e.g. GIS,
remote sensing and mathematical modeling) and recognizing the moral and ethical
issues involved in debates and enquiries.
Just as a scientist goes through a process
for conducting experiment to prove a
theory or concept, an engineer uses a specific process to design and build an bridge, or a doctor uses processes
to diagnose and cure an illness ,well so does the Geographer . In order to do Geography properly we need to follow
a Geographic process. This is known as
the Geographic inquiry process.Through it the Geographer:
·
Asks a Geographic (spatial) Question?
·
Acquires Geographical (Spatial)
information or data.
·
Explores the Geographical (Spatial)
information or data.
·
Analyses the Geographical (Spatial) information
or data.
·
Makes conclusions and Acts on the Geographical
(Spatial) information or data.
It needs to be noted that this process is not
a sequential or linear process. The Geographer will upon acquiring different data or
information go back and change the
Geographic question and acting on geographic
conclusions will generate new Spatial or geographic questions .
However in order to follow this process and
work as a true geographer we need to have access to a Geographical or spatial
toolkit. this is the unique skill set of the Geographer.
These are the skills that Geographers take into the workforce.Geographers
look at issues from a wide perspective and develop a range of skills that are attractive
to a very broad range of future employers. Specific technical skills directly
relevant to geography-related careers include field work, research and report
writing, preparing maps and diagrams, and using social survey and
interpretative methods.
Geography
graduates are also adept in collecting and analysing information using various
technical and laboratory-based methods for the collection and analysis of
spatial and environmental information (e.g. GIS, remote sensing and
mathematical modelling) and recognising the moral and ethical issues involved
in debates and enquiries.
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