What is Geography?
Geography is the study of place, space, and the environment, and of people and others in relation to those. Geographers investigate the character of places, the distribution of phenomena across space, biophysical processes and features, and dynamic relationships between humans and environments. They ask questions about why these phenomena and relationships are the way they are and how they could be; about how societies and environments are connected to one another; how and why they change; and about how and why their characteristics vary across time and space at different scales. Geographers answer questions across scales from the local to the global, and in relation to the past, present, and future.
Geography is fundamentally interdisciplinary and deeply integrative. It is one of the few disciplines that encompasses different ways of knowing, from the natural, physical, and social sciences to the humanities. Geographers are therefore uniquely equipped to understand and address critical problems facing the world. Geographers are motivated by issues such as social and environmental justice, and the efficient, equitable, and sustainable use of resources.
Geographical thought develops knowledge and understanding from three complementary concepts – place, environment, and space.
PLACE
Geographers explore what places mean, how people shape places, and how places shape our lives. This concept brings many areas of geography together in an holistic approach to understanding the characteristics of, and relationships between localities, cities, regions, countries, and continents.
ENVIRONMENT
Geographers investigate biophysical environments encompassing terrestrial, marine, and atmospheric systems. These investigations include the nature; dimensions and causes of environmental change; the reciprocal relationships between the environment and people, and; the resources biophysical systems provide and their sustainability.
SPACE
Geographers examine how, why, and with what effect diverse phenomena vary across the surface of the earth. Geographers understand space to be configured by the movement and organisation of people and materials as well as being a location for social and material action.
This definition of Geography was endorsed in November 2010 by the: Australian Academy of Science’s National Committee for Geography, Australian Geography Teachers’ Association, Geographical Society of New South Wales, Institute of Australian Geographers, Royal Geographical Society of Queensland, and Royal Geographical Society of South Australia.
Careers and study
Geography careers
Are you considering a career in geography? Read more on our geography careers page.
study geography at university
Read our list of Australian universities where you can study geography. Check with your university student support centre to check the latest information on courses.
Join our geography community
Read about the Institute of Australian Geographers and the benefits of membership when you join our community.